The RED BOOK 
of CONTRACT 
BRIDGE 


A DIGEST OF ALL THE 
POPULAR SYSTEMS 



E. J. TOBIN 


















































RED BOOK of 
CONTRACT BRIDGE 


By 

FRANK E. BOURGET and E. J. TOBIN 

I 


A Digest of 

The One-Over-One 
Approach-Forcing 

(“Plastic Valuation”) 

Official 

and Variations 
INCLUDING 

Changes in Laws—New Scoring Rules—Play of the Cards 

AND 

A Recommended 
Common Sense Method 

“Sound Principles of Contract Bridge” 


Approved by the 
Western Bridge Association 


albert?whitman 

£7-' CO. 

CHICAGO 

1933 


&VlZ% z 



Copyright, 1933 

by 

Albert Whitman & Co. 


Printed in U. S. A. 

©CIA 67155 

NOV 15 1933 


PREFACE 


T HE authors of this digest of the generally accepted methods of 
Contract Bridge have made an exhaustive study of the Approach- 
Forcing, the Official, and the One-Over-One Systems, and recog¬ 
nize many of the sound principles advanced by their proponents. 

While the Approach-Forcing contains some of the principles of the 
One-Over-One, it differs in many ways with the method known strictly 
as the One-Over-One, as advanced by Messrs. Sims, Reith or Mrs, 
Kerwin. 

We feel that many of the millions of players who have adopted the 
Approach-Forcing method as advanced by Mr. and Mrs. Culbertson may 
be prone to change their bidding methods and strategy to conform with 
the new One-Over-One idea which is being fused with that system, as 
they will find that, by the proper application of the original Approach- 
Forcing System, that method of Contract will be entirely satisfactory. 

We believe that the One-Over-One, by Mr. Sims and adopted by Mrs. 
Kerwin, can be mastered only by intensive study and with much dis¬ 
regard of the other methods. 

We have prepared, in Section Four, our idea of a common sense 
method of Contract Bridge, “Sound Principles of Contract Bridge.” 
However, we present this digest so that the player may select the method 
best suited to his taste, and to have a general knowledge of the other 
methods, which may be played at the same card table. 

Contract Bridge is like any other thing you undertake. If you wish 
to play it well, which we presume is the desire of most people, you 
must give it thought, and if you are to study the principles outlined 
herein, you will benefit in the twenty-five years of research and experi¬ 
ence of the authors during the successive periods of Whist, Auction 
and Contract. 

E. J. Tobin 
Frank E. Bourget 


3 


TABLE OF CONTENTS 


Section One 

Approach-Forcing Principle.9 to 22 

Rule of 6V2-7. 14 

Rule of 8.22 

4-3-2-1 Count . 21 

Section Two 

One-Over-One Principle..23 to 31 

Center Spread 

International Scoring Code, effective Nov. 1, 1932.32-33 

Section Three 

Official—Vanderbilt—Boland Variations . 34 

Section Four 

Sound Principles of Contract Bridge—“A Simplified Method”... 35 38 

Section Five 

The Play of the Cards.39-56 

Rule of 9. 12 

Rule of 11.43 

The Echo .42 

The Discard .42 

Progressive Games . 56 

Section Six 

Pertinent Laws and Penalties for Irregularities, effective Nov. 

1, 1932 .57-60 

4 

















RED BOOK OF CONTRACT BRIDGE 


A Digest of the Various Methods of Contract Bridge 

By FRANK E. BOURGET and E. J. TOBIN 

Containing the New Scoring Rules and Pertinent Changes 
in the Laws and Playing Psychology 


FOREWORD 

I N VIEW of the fact that the three definite methods of Contract 
Bridge are being played generally throughout the world, we believe 
that a concise treatise and digest explanatory thereof, and under one 
cover, is not only desirable, but an absolute necessity in order to permit 
an intelligent participation at the various card tables, whether playing 
with or against those using these various methods. 

There has been a consistent effort to unify these methods, and while 
the basic principles do not differ greatly, there is but little hope for 
a complete standardization. 

In the Official System, the bid of one guarantees 2^ Honor Tricks, 
a bid of two (except two Clubs) promises 3V2 Honor Tricks and a bid 
of three denotes 4% Honor Tricks. The Original Forcing bid of two 
Clubs indicates a minimum of Honor Tricks. This bid may be “arti¬ 
ficial” and the hand may or may not have a biddable Club suit. The 
response to this demand bid differs from the Approach-Forcing. 

In the Approach-Forcing method, there is no intermediate bid be¬ 
tween 2^2 and 5 V 2 Honor Tricks, unless hand is of the pre-emptive 
type. There is also no “artificial” demand bid. The bid of two orig¬ 
inally should be made on a biddable suit and hand must contain a 
minimum of S 1 /} Honor Tricks, depending on hand complexion. 

The latest innovation of the One-Over-One in the Approach-Forcing 
System, by the Culbertsons, is the preference to suit bids in order to 
permit a One-Over-One response. They prescribe the bidding of shaded 
four card suits—superficially demanding a response, provided that re¬ 
sponding hand is not weaker than one Ace and one Queen. (See fur 
ther information in Section 1). 

In the One-Over-One method the bidders do not immediately show 
the full strength of their hands. The bidding is kept at low levels, 

5 




thereby permitting partners to make one, two, and sometimes three 
responses on strong hands. A response may be as weak as one King and 
one Queen. A bid of 2 No-Trump is forcing and any original bid of 
two or three promises not more than three losers in the hand. A Jump 
shift not only indicates slam possibilities, but assures some length in 
partner’s bid suit. 

In the Boland and Vanderbilt methods, a one Club bid may mean 
a hand containing 3, S 1 /^, or as high as 4^ Honor Tricks, and no Club 
significance whatsoever. The denial response is one Diamond. The 
purpose of this bid is to obtain one round of bidding before original 
bidder indicates his best bid. We dislike any method using “artificial 
bids,” and do not consider them of any particular advantage. Con¬ 
ventions of this kind will prevent a possibility of standardization. 

In making this digest, the authors have followed the principles of 
the Approach-Forcing System as advocated and advanced by Mr. and 
Mrs. Ely Culbertson, for whom we have the utmost respect and ad¬ 
miration, the One-Over-One System as advanced by Mr. Philip Hal Sims, 
and from the recent book of Mrs. Madeleine Kerwin, The One-Over-One 
for Everyone , which we consider a splendid rendition of the method so 
ably presented by Mr. Sims. The play of the hand as outlined herein 
is taken from that priceless book of Mr. Edward C. Wolfe of Cleveland, 
The Play of the Cards at Contract. 

The authors present this digest to the discriminating bridge public 
with the belief that they will be geatly benefited thereby, and will greatly 
appreciate comment from our readers. 

Respectfully submitted, 

J. TOBIN, 

President, Chicago Whist Assn. 

Hon. Member, American Bridge 
League 

Hon. Member, Culbertson National 
Studios 

Director, Western Bridge Assn. 
Director, Auction Bridge Club, 

Chicago 

Author, Sound Principles of Auction 
Bridge 

Co-Author, High Points on Contract 
Bridge 

Co-Author, Red Book of Contract 
Bridge 


FRANK E. BOURCET, E. 

Director, Western Bridge Assn. 

Member, Auction Bridge Club, 

Chicago 

Editor, High Points of Auction Bridge 
Co-Author, High Points on Contract 
Bridge 

Co-Author, Red Book of Contract 
Bridge 


6 


THE AUTHORS’ CREED 
for Contract Bridge Players 


WE BELIEVE: 

That Contract Bridge is the world’s greatest card game, a social ne¬ 
cessity, and the lack of a playing knowledge of it will cause many 
disappointments. 

That anyone caring for cards can develop into a good Contract player. 

That every player, for his own benefit, should read the Laws at least 
once. 

That Soundness, Common Sense and a certain amount of Imagination 
are the prerequisites necessary to become expert in any card game, 
especially Contract. 

That no one should fear learning the game. 

That the words ‘‘Always” and “Never” should be eliminated. Use 
“Usually” and “Avoid.” 

That too much emphasis is placed on rigid rules and bidding machinery 
—flexibility, based on reason and psychology should be practiced. 

That the ambiguous playing trick tables are too complicated for be¬ 
ginners. The method we prescribe is, by simply doubling the Honor 
Tricks in the combined hands, when normal Trump support is held, 
and with favorable distribution these side or long suits and ruffing 
tricks are automatically included. When holding a void side suit, it 
is equivalent to one full Honor Trick in supporting hand. 

That Honor or Quick Tricks, as they are called, should be those which 
are likely trick winners in the first or second rounds of their suit, 
and that other Honors should be considered for their secondary val¬ 
ues in supporting hand, for re-bid purposes or when bidding No- 
Trump. 

That a hand should be bid the same whether or not Vulnerable. How¬ 
ever, when Vulnerable, supporting hand should exercise extreme 
caution in responding and should have some additional values over 
regular requirements. 

That hands of 4, 3, 3, 3—4, 4, 3, 2 and 5, 3, 3, 2, when five card suit is 
not biddable, are of No-Trump pattern, and contain the minimum 
of ruffing possibilities. A No-Trump bid should be made on these 
combinations, especially when holding tenace cards. 

7 


That minimum takeout bids in minor suits when partner has bid a major 
should be done only when not holding normal Trump support, and 
should be discouraging. Original bidder should revalue his hand 
before rebidding. 

That the First and Second hands should be the strongest, and the 
Fourth hand should have ample protection in both major suits, 
when making original bid. 

That the Rule of Eight, called the “Yardstick of Contract,” applies to 
No-Trump bids, and that when suit bids are made, due to ruffing 
tricks, only 6% to 7 Honor Tricks are required in the combined 
hands to win the 13 tricks, 6 to 6^ for 12, 5^ f° r 11> and 5 for 10 
tricks. 

That hand types should be classified as either Aggressive or Defensive. 
The Aggressive type to be based on probable tricks rather than Honor 
Tricks and the Defensive type is one of the No-Trump pattern, good 
material for support in partner’s bid or against adverse contract, ami 
may be well supplied with honors. 

That the 4-3-2-1 count for No-Trump bids is as accurate as any method 
and much simpler. 

That Kibitzers have less rights than dummies and the proprieties of 
the game should be practiced by all players. 


8 


SECTION I 

THE APPROACH-FORCING PRINCIPLE 

(Including the Bourget-Tobin Valuing Method) 

OPINION 

The Approach-Forcing principle, the topic of this chapter, is per¬ 
haps the most generally played of the present methods of Contract 
Bridge, due primarily to the great publicity given it since the famous 
Lenz-Culbertson match. 

The; authors of this treatise recognize the value of this method and 
believe that, with the proper application of its principles, one may be¬ 
come an expert player. We feel that inasmuch as there is no inter¬ 
mediate bid between 2^ and 5^2 Honor Tricks, that the responding 
hand should show its maximum strength, thereby not only informing 
partner of its playing trick value, but often shutting out a fourth hand 
over call bid or informatory double, which might be made if response 
is held at low level. 

At the present time, books treating on the Approach-Forcing prin¬ 
ciple contain an “ambiguous playing trick table,” endeavoring to estab¬ 
lish playing trick values based on long suits, side suits, ruffing tricks 
and what not. These tables, in our opinion, are far too difficult for the 
average person to memorize and put into a workable practice. 

We have devised a very simple method of calculating the playing 
trick values of the combined hands, which we feel will be generally 
adopted by the many authorities and the playing public. This method 
has been proven by an analysis of thousands of hands and is as perfect 
as any other method we are able to comprehend, except that it is so 
simple that any one can understand it and value their hands instantly. 

All authorities recognize the Rule of Eight, commonly called the 
“Yardstick” of Contract Bridge. The Rule of Eight, of course, applies 
to No-Trump bids. In suit bids, however, there are usually from one 
to three ruffing tricks, which are not possible in No-Trump bids. These 
ruffing tricks create additional low card tricks, thereby decreasing the 
number of high card tricks that take at No-Trump. We have found 
that in suit bids, depending on reasonable distribution, that from 6% 
to 7 Honor Tricks (High Card Tricks), take the 13 tricks in each deal. 
Therefore, it is obvious that 1 Honor Trick has the potential value of 
two playing tricks. 

We have outlined on page 14 a schedule for bidding and respond- 

9 


10 


A Digest of 


ing, and re-bidding where possible; also a few illustrations of hands 
in confirmation thereof. Of course, when originally responding, the 
minimum of Trump support must be held, but should partner rebid 
after a legitimate takeout, lesser Trump requirements may be held by 
the supporting hand. 

The authors feel that Mr. and Mrs. Ely Culbertson should be given 
unstinted credit for the advancement and publicity of Contract Bridge. 
Their method is a good one when properly employed, and we subscribe 
to their new “Plastic Valuation” idea when not in conflict with the 
other proven principles. 


Recent Changes in the Approach-Forcing Principle 

We relate in the following paragraphs the principal changes now 
advocated by the Culbertsons as shown in the “Blue Book of 1933,” 
which we highly commend; also their definition of “Plastic Valuation.” 

In an endeavor to create a One-Over-One method of bidding and 
raising for the Approach-Forcing principle, the Culbertsons are now 
advocating that original openings be shaded. 

The minimum requirements for any biddable suit are as follows: 
At least four trumps with about 1 y 2 Honor Tricks in the suit. The 
Honor-Trick requirement is sometimes shaded in order to give a more 
complete picture of hand distribution and avoid the dangers of open¬ 
ing the bidding with No-Trump. 

Five-card trump lengths require but y 2 Honor Trick and can be 
shaded to Q-10 or even J-10. “Shaded” biddable suits may be bid: 
A-J-9-x, K-Q-x-x or Q-J-10-x in either majors or minors, and, in addition, 
A-J-x-x, K-J-x-x or A-10-x-x in minor suits. Suits below this minimum 
are, as a rule, not biddable except in a forced response to a takeout 
double. In responding to a suit bid of One and Two, partners to raise 
that suit should hold a minimum of Q-3-2 or four small trumps, very 
rarely A-x or K-x. J-10-2 is almost equivalent to Q-3-2. With a hand 
containing a justifiable raise, and yet no other bid, a raise on but A-x, 
K-x or three small trumps should be made. Fortunately, such situations 
are rare. 

The 1 y 2 Honor-trick requirement is now shaded to One-Ace and 
One-Queen when responding. 

Rebiddable trump suit requirements are slightly less. Instead of re¬ 
quiring four sure trump tricks, the expectancy of four sure trump tricks 
suffices. A-K-10-3-2, A-Q-10-5-4 are now rebiddable suits. 

A jump rebid in the same suit now shows a six card or longer suit 



11 


The ArpROACH-FoRciNG Principle 


containing not more than one loser—very important and useful for slam- 
bids. 

Forcing bids demanding response are: 

1. The opening two bid in a suit. 

2. A jump takeout in a new suit. 

3. The jump rebid in a new suit. 

4. The overcall in the opponent’s suit. 

5. Inferential forcing bids. 

6. The Four No-Trump overcall of an opponent’s four bid. 

7. The Four No-Trump takeout of partner’s bid. 

8. The Five No-Trump takeout of partner’s bid. 

When having partial score, original two bid is forcing for one round. 

A “sign-off” bid is recognized by the fact that (a) the responding 
hand has bid and then rebid its suit at least twice; and, at the same 
time, (b) the “sign-off” bid is always in the range of three bids in the 
suit. They are restricted to the responding hand, as: 

1 N.T.—2 Clubs; 2N.T.-3 Clubs (sign-off), or 

1 Spade—2 Clubs; 2 Spades—3 Clubs (sign-off), or 

1 Heart—1 Spade; 2 Hearts—2 Spades; 3 Hearts—3 Spades (sign- 

off). . „ 

The sign-off bid shows a six or seven card suit with one or less Honor 
Tricks. It does not show less than V 2 Honor Trick except with an extra¬ 
ordinary freak or a seven card suit. Hands that are too weak to rebid 
even once, without a serious penalty, should not be rebid at all. 

“Plastic Valuation” 

“Plastic Valuation ’ is the name given to a series of logical inferences 
which fall into three successive steps, as follows: . 

First Step —The player counts the losers and winners of each suit m 

his own hand. . ,. , . 

Second Step —A player visualizes (paints a mental picture of) nis 
partner's hand on the basis of minimum strength and distribution as 
shown by partner's bids. If partner has not bid, the mental picture is 

based on assumed averages. , 

Third Step —A player eliminates, within each suit, some of the orig¬ 
inally assumed losers of his hand by adding the values inferred from 
partner’s bids, creating thereby a new composite picture made up from 
the known or assumed elements of the two hands. The total of sure and 
probable losers of this new imaginary hand determines the selection 
and the margin of safety of the contract. During these processes of vis¬ 
ualization, the “imaginary” hand undergoes further transformation under 
the influence of values shown or denied by opponents. 



12 


A Digest of 


The authors of the Red Book of Contract quote on the preceding 
page an excerpt from the “Blue Book of 1933.” We believe that those 
expert in Contract develop a natural “plastic” idea in many ways sim¬ 
ilar to this definition, but feel that the fundamental mechanics as out¬ 
lined in the Approach-Forcing System should be of first importance, es¬ 
pecially to the beginner and non-expert player. 

SUMMARY 

of 

Original Suit Bids of 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 

Opening Suit Bid of 1 and Response 

Bid: Less than 2y 2 Honor Tricks — Pass. 2% to 5 Honor Tricks— 
Bid ONE if hand contains a biddable suit and 5 probable tricks. Lack¬ 
ing a biddable suit—with good distribution bid No-Trump. 

Response: Holding less than \y 2 Honor Tricks and Normal Trump 
Support —Q-x-x or x-x-x-x Trumps—PASS. Holding above requirement, 
bid according to schedule on page 14. Lacking Normal Trump Support 
and holding 1^2 or 2 Honor Tricks, make takeout; (a) Biddable Suit, or 

(b) No-Trump. Holding 3+ or 3^2 Honor Tricks, make Jump Shift Bid; 

(c) Biddable Suit, or (d) 2 No-Trump. Holding V-/ 2 or more Honor 
Tricks, make any Forcing Bid; or 3 No-Trump, provided hand contains 
ample protection in the suits other than bid by partner when holding 
no biddable 4-card suit. 

Opening Suit Bid of 2 and Response 

(FORCING or GAME DEMAND bid—Partner must respond). 

Bid: Bidder must have 5 1 /' 2 or more Honor Tricks —at least four cards 
of the suit bid headed by A-Q or A-J-10 or K-Q-10 (iy 2 Honors) or five 
card suit headed by K or Q-J, (Y 2 Honor: Game is sure and bidding 
must be kept open until game contract is reached.) If of 4-3-3-3 distri¬ 
bution, bid One. 

Response: Partner must raise partner's suit bid. Holding normal 
Trump support and at least 1 other Honor Trick. Holding less than 
normal support, bid any 6 card suit or 5 card suit if headed by K or 
Q-J or 4 card suit if headed by A-Q or A-J-10 or K-Q-10. Holding less 
than iy 2 Honor Tricks and lacking above requirements, bid 2 No-Trump. 
Holding 2 Honor Tricks—bid 3 No-Trump; V-/ 2 Honor Tricks—bid 
4 No-Trump; Holding 3 y 2 Honor Tricks—bid 6 No-Trump. 

Opening Suit Bid of 3 and Response 

Bid: Opening of suit bid of three is not advisable , when used, hand 
should contain 8 playing tricks. When bid in major suit -top cards of 
suit bid are necessary, with eight playing tricks of which three are 
Honor Tricks. Example: A-K-Q-J-x-x plus an A and K or A-K-Q-x-x-x-x 
plus a side A. In a minor suit, three-bid must be on an unquestionably 



The Approach-Forcing Principle 


13 


established suit, as A-K-Q-J-x-x-x and a sprinkling of Queensvand Knaves 
on the outside. 

Response: Partner should need 1 to l-\- Honor Tricks, or good dis¬ 
tribution (such as three trumps and a singleton), to raise. If partner 
has less than 1 Honor Trick, he should pass. A major suit bid of 3 
should be raised to 4 by partner if his hand contains 2 supporting tricks. 
No re-bid is possible. (*) 

Opening Suit Bid of 4 and Response 

Bid: Very weak hand defensively with little or no strength outside 
of suit bid. A minor suit bid of 4 is very rarely used as an opening bid. 
A major suit bid of 4 indicates 8 playing tricks, but having less side 
strength than a bid of 3, it is considered a pre-emptive bid to prevent 
adversaries from bidding. (A-K-Q-x-x-x-x plus K-x or A-K-J-10-x-x-x 
plus A) No Trump support is necessary for raising. 

Response: Partner should respond when holding 3 supporting 
tricks (most of which should be honors and raise bid to 5). This is a 
slam invitation. 

If opponents have over-called the bid, raise to 5 if holding 1 Vk 
supporting tricks. If partner has raised to 5, bid a slam if holding: 
values not included in opening bid. (*) 

Opening Suit Bid of 5 and Response 

Bid: A Pre-emptive Bid. Usually made in minor suits, indicates 9 
playing tricks. Example: A-K-Q-J-x-x-x or A-K-Q-x-x-x-x plus A-K or 
A-Q-J in one suit. 

Response: Holding 2 Aces plus Q-J-x-x raise to 6. 

Note: (Normal Trump Support not required in raising Pre-emptive Bids.) 

* An adverse overcall of No-Trump indicates a powerful hand and forces 
partner to bid. 

Opening Bids Must Be Correct and a Knowledge of Honor 
Trick Values and Ruffing Tricks Is Imperative 

The opening bid in the Approach-Forcing principle promises a 
minimum of FIVE-playing tricks, and a biddable suit of either four 
or FIVE-long; such as A-K-x-x, A-Q-J-x or K-Q-10-x, which four suiters 
cannot be re-bid without a raise from partner. They should not be bid 
originally unless hand contains THREE Honor Tricks. These suits 
FIVE-long, have a natural re-bid value and can be bid originally when 
hand contains but 2% Honor Tricks. (See Shaded Opening Bids, p. 10.) 
Other Biddable Suits 

A five-card suit may be bid when headed by J-10-x-x-x-, or better, 
provided entire hand contains at least 2V 2 Honor Tricks. (Occasionally 
a five-card suit, headed by smaller cards, may be bid, depending on 
type of hand). 





14 


A Digest of 


Any six-card suit may be bid if containing the same requirements 
of side strength as in the above paragraph. 

Re-Biddable Suits 

Provided partner has failed to support, and lacking support of his 
major suit takeout, re-bid: 

(1) If your suit is a five-carder, headed by at least A-Q or K-Q-10, or 

(2) A suit of six cards or more, or 

(3) A four-carder, provided partner has raised it, promising some 
length in it. 

It is assumed by the original bidder when making the opening bid 
that his partner’s hand contains TWO-playing tricks, so that in the event 
his hand contains the minimum raising requirement of IV2 Honor Tricks 
(three-Playing tricks) that a minimum of EIGHT-Playing tricks should 
result in the right auction. Responding requirements, see page 14. 


Honor Trick Values 


2 Tricks 
* A-K 


114 Tricks 
* A-Q 
A-J-10 
K-Q-10 
K-Q-J 


1 Trick 

* A 

* K-Q 
K-J-x 
K-x & Q-x 


y 2 Trick 
* K-x 
Q-J-x 
Q-x—J-x 


* It is the opinion of the authors that these Honors should be used when 
making an original suit appraisal, but all above Honors should be employed in 
supporting hand, for rebidding and for No-Trump bids. 


Should partner’s Original Bid be a Major suit, do not show your 
biddable suit when holding requirements for raise. But should MINOR 
suit be Bid and holding a biddable MAJOR suit; Bid MAJOR suit. 

Opening Bidder should keep Bidding Open, provided partner has 
raised: (a) By raising partner if possible; (b) By re-bidding own suit 
if long or very strong; (c) By bidding NO TRUMP, if hand contains 
no 5 card suit and values in addition to OPENING BID; (d) By bid¬ 
ding a LONG SECONDARY SUIT, if hand is a TWO-SUITER; (e) 
Original Bidder should make a jump takeout bid if hand contains a 
second biddable suit with 3 or more Honor Tricks in hand. 


Condensed Schedule for Original Suit Bids and Responses 
(Designed by Frank E. Bourget and E. J. Tobin to Replace 
Playing Trick Tables) 

The schedule shown below is so designed as to permit rapid cal¬ 
culation of Honor Trick Valuations in the combined hands of partners 
and their relationship to the number of Playing Tricks they should 
produce under normal expectancy. When raising in partner’s suit, 
Normal Trump Support, the minimum of which is Q-x-x or x-x-x-x, of 



The Approach-Forcing Principle 


15 


partner’s suit must be held, except when partner rebids his suit after 
takeout, in which event any honor plus, or x-x-x Trumps may be consid¬ 
ered ample Trump support. (Lacking this support, see page 11.) 

This Schedule may justly be called the “6Vk-7 Honor Trick Rule,” 
as it has been determined that in a suit bid where Normal Trump Sup¬ 
port is held, that by merely doubling the combined honors up to 5%, 
except in hands of freakish distribution, there will be produced twice 
the number of playing tricks, 6 to 6V2 to produce 12 and 6V2 to 7 to 
produce 13 playing tricks. 

When supporting hand is void a suit other than that bid by partner, 
this void should be considered as having the value of One Honor Trick. 


Table for Original Suit Bids and Responses 


(b) ORIGINAL BIDS 

Partner’s Response to 
Bids of Declarer 

Honor 

Tricks 

Should 

Bid 

REMARKS 

Holding Raise To 

IV 2 H.T.2 

2 H.T.3 

2% H.T.4 

3 H.T.5 

IN MINOR or 
FORCE IN 
MAJOR 

3V 2 H.T.FORCE 

(c) 2 V 2 

1 

When biddable suit is 
at least 5 long. Other¬ 
wise pass. 

(c) 3 

1 1 When biddable suit is 

1 at least 4 long. 

(a) 3% 

(a) 4 

1 

Except when holding 
preemptive bid require¬ 
ments. (See page ...) 

(a) 4 1 / 4 

1 

If hand is a strong 
two-suiter and a good 
re-bid, make forcing bid 
of two. 

5 

or more 

2 

Force 

Indicates game or slam 

possibilities. 

See response to 
forcing bid. 


When responding hand is of 3-3-3-4 pattern, deduct V2 Honor Trick 
therefrom, compensating for the lack of ruffing trick. 

(a) Original bidder should re-bid only when holding additional 
Honor Trick values over minimum requirements at the rate of ONE 
raise for each additional y 2 Honor Trick held. (See following page). 

(b) Original bidder when VULNERABLE, in 3rd or 4th position, 
should have some plus values over minimum requirements, or a suit 
bid with a natural re-bid and ample protection in three suits, or a 
strong two-suiter. Supporting hand should be slightly stronger than 
when not vulnerable. 

(c) Minimum Requirements. 





























16 


A Digest of 


HAND EXAMPLES 
Of Doubling Honor Trick Values 


A AKxxx 
V Kx 

♦ xxxx 
A XX 

A Jxx 

¥ XXX 

♦ AJx 
A Kxxx 

A Qxx 
¥ AQxx 

♦ xx 

A Qxxx 

N—2%HT—1 Spade 
S—iy 2 -fHT—2 Spades 


A xx 

A Qxx 

¥ xxxx 

¥ Jxx 

♦ KQxx 

♦ Qxx 

A AJx 

A A Jxx 


A AKIOxx 
¥ Kx 

♦ xxxx 

* Kx 

A J 

¥ xxx 
♦ KJx 
A xxxxxx 


A xxxx 
¥ AQxxx 
♦ Axxj 

A Q 


N—3HT—1 Spade 
S— 2y 2 HT— 4 Spades 


N 

W E 
S 


N 

W E 
S 


4-f-HT or 8+ Playing Tricks S^HT or 11 Playing Tricks 


A AKQxx 
¥ Ax 
♦ AQx 
A Qxx 


A KQxxx 
¥ KQx 
♦ KQxx 

A x 


A Jxx 
¥ Jxx 
♦ xxx 
A Kxxx 


A xxxx 
¥ KQxxx 
♦ Kx 
A Ax 


A x 

A Ax 

¥ xxx 

¥ xxxx 

♦ Jxxx 

♦ xxx 

A Jxxxx 

Kxx 


A Jx 
¥ Axxx 
♦ Jxx 
A Qxxx 

A xxxx 
¥ xx 
♦ Axx 
A Axxx 


N 

W E 
S 


N 

W E 
S 


N—4y 2 HT—1 Spade 
S—2 1 /4HT—4 Spades 
N— Rebids 7 Spades 


N—3HT—1 Spade 
S—2HT—3 Spades 
N— Rebids 4 Spades 


7HT or 13 Playing Tricks 5HT or 10 Playing Tricks 












The Approach-Forcing Principle 


17 


A xx 
¥ QJx 
♦ AKxxx 
A QJx 


A Kxx 
¥ xxx 
♦ Qxx 
A Axxx 

A AQJx 
¥ Kxx 

♦ XX 

A Kxxx 


A AKQxxx 
¥ QJxx 

♦ xx 

A x 

A xxx 
¥ xx 
♦ Jxxxx 
A AQx 

A J 

¥ Kx 

♦ AKQxxx 
A xxxx 


A xxxx 
¥ Axxx 
♦ Jxx 
A xx 




A xxx 
¥ Axxxx 
♦ None 
A Kxxxx 


1 st 

N—3HT —IDia. 

S—2V2HT—1 Spade 


2 nd 1st 2nd 

1 N.T. N—2y 2 HT—1 Spade 4 Spades 

3 N.T. S—2y 2 HT—3 Dia. Pass 


5V 2 HT—9 P.T. at N.T. 


5HT or 10 Playing Tricks 


Overcall or Defensive Bids 
Player to Left of Opening Bidder 
(Over-call Bids and Partner’s response after adversaries’ Bid) 
Holding Less than V/2 Honor Tricks—Pass 
Holding I /2 Honor Tricks, Make Overcall Bid 
(1) When bid of one is sufficient to overcall adversaries: (a) Bid 
any five card suit headed by ^ Honor Trick, provided hand contains 

1 y 2 Honor Tricks, (b) Bid any four card suit headed by IV2 Honor 
Tricks, provided hand contains 2 Honor Tricks. ... (2) When bid of 

2 is required to overcall adversaries; bid any five card suit headed by 
11/2 Honor Tricks provided hand contains 2 Honor Tricks. To raise 
your partner’s bid it is necessary that you have at least y 2 Honor Trick 
over the requirement necessary to raise an original bid, and normal sup¬ 
port, the minimum of which is Q-x-x or x-x-x-x of trump. 

Holding 2 ! / 2 Honor Tricks 

(a) Bid No-Trump if hand contains no biddable suit, but has ad¬ 
versaries’ suit stopped twice, (b) Bid any biddable suit as in above 
paragraph.* (c) Lacking requirements of (a) or (b)—PASS. . 
Partner’s response the same as partner’s response to an opening suit 
bid of 1 or opening 1 No-Trump. 








18 


A Digest of 


Holding 3 Honor Tricks 

—when distributed in three suits (other than suit bid by adversaries). 
DOUBLE adversaries’ bid provided partner has not bid or DOUBLED. 
This is an Informatory Double and demands a response.PART¬ 

NER’S RESPONSE: (a) PASS (Business Pass), ONLY if holding 
length in adversaries’ suit capable of taking at least three trump tricks, 
(b) Holding V /2 Honor Tricks (or less) bid strongest suit in hand. 
CHOICE: bid four card major, headed by any Honor Card in prefer¬ 
ence to five card minor—but bid six card minor in preference to 4 
card major, (c) Holding a stopper in suit bid by adversaries: Bid 1 
No-Trump if hand contains 1y 2 Honor Tricks. Holding a double stop¬ 
per: bid 2 No-Trump if hand contains two Honor Tricks or bid 3 No- 
Trump if hand contains 2y 2 Honor Tricks, (d) Holding 2 Honor 
Tricks, respond with a JUMP BID (1 more than necessary to overcall), 
(e) With hands stronger than above, respond with a game bid. 

Holding More Than 3 Honor Tricks 

(a) Make any forcing bid. Partner’s Response: Should bid if hold¬ 
ing as little as 1 Honor Trick—otherwise PASS, (b) Bid same suit ad¬ 
versaries have previously bid. (This is similar to but stronger than an 
informatory DOUBLE—telling partner, in addition to containing MORE 
than 3 Honor Tricks, the hand can also win the first lead of adver¬ 
saries’ suit—holding either the Ace of that suit, a void or a singleton. 
Partner’s Response: MUST BID. Note: In this case, the total remain¬ 
ing Honor Tricks (unaccounted for by the previous bidding) can never 
exceed 2y 2 . Holding l 1 /^ of these, game is almost sure. 

Exception 

Depending on score and previous bidding,, an extra ^2 trick MAY 
be used as a full trick when needed to keep bidding open or to raise 
over an adverse bid. K-x when that suit is on the left of it may be 
worthless, but when suit is bid on right it is usually worth a full trick. 

Overcalls 

When vulnerable an overcall should not be made unless holding 
2i/ 2 Honor Tricks. This is not only a safety measure but it gives your 
partner definite knowledge of your hand’s Honor Trick holding. 

When not vulnerable a minimum of iy 2 Honor Tricks are required. 
A third hand overcall is sometimes effective in imparting the knowl¬ 
edge of the suit to lead by partner at left of opening bidder. 

A Jump-Overcall shows but little outside strength and a long trump 
suit. It is made primarily to shut out third hand bid. The player gam¬ 
bles on two tricks in partner’s hand, if vulnerable, and three tricks when 
not vulnerable. Responding partner should raise according to tricks 
held in addition to the two or three assumed. 




The Approach-Forcing Principle 


19 


Do Not Overcall or Double Opening No-Trump 
(Exception) 

Unless holding tenace J\A-Q) (K-J) cards in three suits. When hold¬ 
ing two-suiter hand long and strong do not double but bid the stronger 
first. When holding a suit which can be established in one lead with 
or without a re-entry, Pass. 

Bid Opponent’s Suit 

(1) When holding the Ace of that suit, a void or singleton, indi¬ 
cating more than 3 Honor Tricks; partner must respond by bidding his 
suit or No-Trump if adverse suit is well stopped. 

(2) If partner has bid with a minimum of 2^ Honor Tricks the 
combined Honor Tricks may be sufficient for slam. 

(3) Bid opponent’s suit after partner has bid originally either with 
singleton, none, or the Ace of that suit. Partner must keep bidding open, 
as combined hands contain more than 6 Honor Tricks. 

A Jump Shift Bid 

(Forcing and partner must respond) until best game contract is 
reached. When holding a minimum of 3+ Honor Tricks outside of your 
Partner’s suit bid, and having a strong biddable suit (preferably a 
major) whether holding normal trump support or not, make a Jump 
Shift Bid from 1 to 3. Original bidder must respond by rebidding his 
suit if long and strong; raise his partner’s bid if holding trump re¬ 
quirements or by bidding No-Trump. Game can be reached at the best 
contract. A rebiddable suit would be an A-K-x-x-x; A-Q-J-x-x; K-Q-10- 
x-x, and which suits do not require normal trump support from partner 
when Jump bid is made. 

A Double Jump Takeout is not forcing but indicates a long strong 


suit with 

no side tricks. 

Doubles 


Dealer 

2nd Hand 

3rd Hand 

4th Hand 

(a) Pass 

Bid 

Double 

Must Bid 

(b) Bid 

Bid 

Double 

Business 

(c) Bid 

Double 

Pass 

Must Bid 

(d) Bid 
Pass 

Pass 

Pass 

Pass 

Double (business) 

Bid 


Holding at least six tricks of which 3 are trump tricks as Q-J-10-x-x 
plus A-K-Q or A-K side A or K-x. A minimum of 2 tricks are assumed 
to be held by partner. Double not advisable unless can set opponents 2 
tricks. An Informatory Double asks a Bid from Partner — shows a 
minimum of 3 Honor tricks and may or may not be strong in oppo¬ 
nent’s suit, re-bid their suit if holding a minimum of 3 Honor Tricks 
(see bidding opponent’s suit) with less than the above take out with 




20 


A Digest of 


any jour card major suit even though a four minor suit may be held 
with 2 Honor Tricks, or if holding a 5 card suit (minor) and a 4 card 
major headed by less than x /o Honor Trick, bid minor suit. (Always 
prefer penalty score to trick score when equal). 


Slam Invitation (Forcing) 

(1) A Jump Bid to a different suit than bid by partner. 

(2) Any bid over game. 

(3 Jump from 1 to 5—3 to 5—in major suit. 

(4) A rebid of opponent's suit after partner has bid. Don’t bid more 
than necessary when having part score unless certain of making slam. 

(5) A two-bid, if enough for game, requires 44/2 H. T. A strength 
response becomes a slam invitation. 


Leads and Plays 

Return your partner’s lead—high from two or three, fourth best 
from four or more, lacking high honors. He can account for missing 
cards. 

Cover an honor only when by doing so some advantage may be 
gained. 

Finesse A-Q with Q or K-J with J unless game can be made other¬ 
wise. 

Don’t underlead a King-Queen when making an original lead against 
suit declarations. Prefer another suit if leadable. Otherwise lead King. 

Lead from top of sequences: Q-J-10 or J-10-9, etc. 

Don’t lead from A-Q or K-J suits, major and minor tenaces re¬ 
spectively, unless necessary, as K-J or A-Q tenaces are usually held 
in one hand by opponents. Led from top of Q-J-9 holdings, this 
affords a possibility of catching the King if in the middle. 

When not originally leading from top of suit lead fourth highest 
card from best suit as the Rule of Eleven will permit partner to locate 
missing high cards. It is proper to lead an intermediate card when 
holding a combination such as A-J-10-x; or K-J-10-x—lead J when play¬ 
ing no trumps. 

Lead to weakness and through strength. Having no leadable suit 
lead short supporting cards. 

It is advisable to force trump in bidder’s hand when losing cards 
are held by dummy—(commonly called pumping) especially now that 
4 card suits are biddable. 

A high-low in playing indicates out of suit or can win third lead 
as Q-7-2 play 7 then 2. 

Seldom finesse against your partner. 



The Approach-Forcing Principle 


21 


No-Trump Bids and Responses 

“4-3-2-1 Count” 

Recommended by the Authors 

Original and Raising No-Trump Holdings should be 2-3-3-5; 2-3-1-4 
or 3-3-3-4. 


Honor Count—No-Trump 

ACE-4 1 KING 3 QUEEN-2 F^ACK-l 1 TEN-0 


Minimum Original Requirements 


Bid 1 

1st Hand—13 Count 
2nd Hand—12 Count 
3rd Hand—14 Count 
4th Hand—15 Count 


Bid 2 
*17 Count 
*17 Count 
*18 Count 
19 Count 


Bid 3 
21 Count 

21 Count 

22 Count 
22 Count 


Bid 4 
25 Count 

Bid 5 
29 Count 


* Four suits must be 

stopped. 

With only three stopped, must have 19. 


Partner to Raise 




BIDDER 

To 2 

To 3 

To 5 

To 6 

To 7 

1 NO TRUMP 

9 

11 

19 

23 

27 

2 NO TRUMP 

— 

7 

15 

19 

23 

3 NO TRUMP 

— 

— 

11 

15 

19 

4 NO TRUMP 

— 

— 

7 

11 

15 

5 NO TRUMP 

— 

— 

— 

7 

11 

6 NO TRUMP 

— 

— 

— 

— 

7 

Combined Count 

22 

24 

32 

36 

40 


Opening bidder should re-bid hand if hand contains up to 16 count 
and partner has raised from 1 to 2—Re-bid three No-Trump; or if he 
has raised to 5, re-bid to 6. 


“Approach-Forcing Principle” 

Bid: 1st and 2nd Hands 3 Honor Tricks (except when holding 
K-Q-x, plus K-Q-x, plus K-x or Q-J-x). 3rd and 4th Hands 3V 2 Honor 
Tricks, bid one; 4V 2 , bid two; 5%, bid three. When vulnerable hand 
should be 1 H. T. stronger. 

Response: Holding about 1% Honor Tricks—make takeout bid or 
pass Holding about 2+ Honor Tricks—make takeout bid or raise 
once Holding about 3 Honor Tricks—make demand bid or raise twice. 
Holding about 4+ Honor Tricks—make demand bid trying for slam. 






22 


A Digest of the Approach-Forcing Principle 


Rule of Eight (Yardstick) for No-Trump Bids 

The following schedule is based on the accepted ratio of 8 (some¬ 
times 8V2) honor tricks and 5 non-honor tricks taking 13 playing tricks 
in each deal at No-Trump bids. 


Combined 

Produces 

Definite 

Combined 

Holdings 

Playing Tricks 

8:5 Ratio 

Bid 

4Va 

7 

7.2 

1 

5 

8 

8. 

2 

5V 2 

84- 

8.8 

24- 

6 

9 

9.6 

3 

6V2 

10 

10.4 

4 

7 

11 

11.2 

5 

7M> 

12 

12. 

6 

8 

124- 

12.8 

64- 

8V2 

13 

13. 

7 


4-Plus values. At times may be used to increase bid. 

No-Trump Do’s and Don’ts 

Only bid No-Trump when no biddable suit can be bid (except with 
3-3-3-4- holding). 

Do not first raise partner s No-Trump bid when having a biddable 
suit (unless holding 3-3-3-4 or 2-3-4-4 combinations). 

Should adversaries make overcall, do not raise No-Trump unless 
two stoppers in their suit. 

Don’t bid No-Trump originally or raise unless holding the following 
combinations: 3-3-3-4, 2-3-3-5 and 2-3-4-4. (Avoid bidding No-Trump 
with two doubletons, singleton or void.) 

Always prefer a major suit to No-Trump when holding tops 4 
(unless 3-3-3-4 combination) or 5 long such as A-K, A-Q-J, A-Q or 
A-J-10. 

Don’t bid over 3 No-Trump (game) unless quite certain of slam 
possibilities. 

2 No-Trump is not a Demand or Forcing Bid , but is highly invita¬ 
tional. When bidding 1 No-Trump—three suits must be stopped. When 
bidding 2 No-Trumps or more—four suits must be stopped. 





SECTION 2 

DIGEST OF THE ONE-OYER-ONE PRINCIPLE 

OPINION 

The origin of the One-Over-One principle of Contract, as played 
by many of the country’s best players, is attributed to Mr. Theodore 
Lightner. The most recent book by Mr. Philip Hal Sims, “Money Con¬ 
tract” is in the authors’ opinion a bridge classic. Mr. Sims is Captain 
of the famous “Four-horsemen Team of Contract” and he bases his 
success in winning so many tournaments, and from a million to a mil¬ 
lion and a half points each year in money games upon his construction 
of the One-Over-One method. 

Its symmetrical structure of soundness, precision, common sense, 
flexibility of rules, and reasonable imagination, make it a spectacular 
and psychological game. 

This digest is not intended to replace Mr. Sims’ book, but merely 
to assist those who desire a fundamental knowledge of the One-Over- 
One, and thereby permit a clearer interpretation, should they later 
obtain one. It is, as stated before, merely made to assist those playing 
any of the other systems, in having an understanding for defensive 
purposes or a playable knowledge. 

The One-Over-One is a logical application of the Approach methods 
developed in the latter days of Auction Bridge. The principal advan¬ 
tage of the bidding and responding at low levels, is that it permits 
partners to make one, two or even three additional responses on strong 
hands. 

By using the same method of valuing playing tricks as suggested by 
us this system can also be simplified. 

The Method 

The One-Over-One method of Contract Bridge bidding and respond¬ 
ing differs materially from the other recognized systems. It superficially 
demands that the bidding be kept open for one round only at the low 

level. . . ... 

If the player open the bidding with one in a suit, and his partner 
responds with a bid that does not increase the number of tricks for 
the contract, the original bidder must bid again, thus ensuring at least 
one more message by which information may be received and, possibly, 
given. There is no implied guaranty that the forced reply will be an¬ 
swered. However, the opening bid in first or second position, at any 

23 


24 


A Digest of 


rate, is assumed to have a strong base, so strong that a re-bid can be 
made with reasonable safety; hence, the responding hands bid of 
one in a suit, even if made with a comparatively weak hand, may be 
made with forcing implication, and yet not result in disaster if the 
final contract be one in a suit, one No-Trump, or even two of a suit. 
On an original bid of one Spade or one No-Trump, the One-Over-One 
principle of forced responses cannot be used, and any higher bid, other 
than a Jump bid, is non-forcing, yet the response can be considered by 
original bidder as invitational. 

The One-Over-One takeout, however, must nearly always be a legi¬ 
timate, playable four-card suit (or longer) ; for it will be of a higher 
rank than the opening suit bid, and consequently persistent support 
from partner must be anticipated as a possibility. 

A Player who has already passed cannot force with a One-Over-One 
response. Therefore it is permissable for either third or fourth hand 
to make an original opening without a natural re-bid. . . . Then should 
his partner give a One-Over-One response, after originally passing, the 
original bidder may use his own discretion as to whether or not to 
continue or sign-off. 

While an opening bid in any position is not strictly forcing, yet 
it may be made on a very strong hand and partner should use every 
means possible to keep bidding open that round, as partner may show 
a more favorable suit the next time, which suit may fit partner’s hand 
belter. When the next suit is bid, then pass only w’hen having no pos¬ 
sible raise or takeout. 

The chain of the One-Over-One bidding is broken only when the 
response to a one bid is 1 No-Trump or 2 of a lower ranking suit. 
A response of 1 No-Trump shows weakness, but gives partner an oppor¬ 
tunity for a more favorable bid. A bid of Two in a lower ranking suit, 
while breaking the chain of forcing response, shows a biddable suit 
and can be considered invitational, the original bidder to decide whether 
or not bidding should continue. A response of One in a higher suit, 
while perhaps not showing any great strength, is forcing and demands 
a re-bid. Any Jump Shift to a lower ranking suit (one more than nec¬ 
essary to over-call), is forcing and demands game. This affirms some 
strength or length in partner’s bid major suit. A response of 2 No- 
Trump is forcing and bidding must continue open until game level is 
reached. A bid of 3 No-Trump is a slam signal. When responding 
partner raises in partner’s suit, the bid should stay open for at least 
one more round. 

The Honor Trick valuations of the One-Over-One Method are called 
Primary Tricks, and those Honors which are not included in the Pri¬ 
mary Trick combinations are considered as plus or Secondary values. 
The Primary Tricks are: 





The One-Over-One Principle 


25 


A-K . .2, A-Q iy 2 , A . 1, K-Q .1, K-x...% 

Secondary values are: 

K-J-x and J-x-x—in other 1 Trick. Q-J-x.y 2 Trick. 

K-x-x and Q-x-x—in other 1 Trick. Q-x-x and J-x-x.y 2 Trick. 

These values may he used by supporting hand or as plus values for 
re-bid purposes. 

The Primary Tricks of the One-Over-One Method form the best 
‘’Yardstick” for measuring playing tricks in Contract and for estimating 
the value of the combined hands. As it is not possible for more than 8 
Primary Tricks to count at any one time, they form a perfect 8:5 ratio 
for No-Trump bids, which table is shown on page 22. Therefore, with 
the minimum requirement of 3 Primary Tricks, these should produce at 
least five to six Playing Tricks. In suit bids, where ruffing tricks become 
a factor, many times it is only necessary that the combined hands hold 
from 6% to 7 Primary Tricks in order to take the 13 tricks. 

The above Primary Tricks are valued at their ability to take in the 
first or second rounds of their suits. 

Opening Bids 

In making opening bids, the First and Second hands should be the 
strongest, with a natural, re-bid in the hand; the Third hand the least 
of strength, and the Fourth hand must be strong defensively against a 
possible adverse Major suit bid. The requirements of bids in all posi¬ 
tions are as follows: 

FIRST OR SECOND HAND: 

Minimum of 3 Primary Tricks, natural re-bid in case partner re¬ 
sponds with a One-Over-One response; or 

A hand of freak distribution with from iy 2 to 2^2 Primary Tricks 
with a minimum of six playing tricks. 

THIRD HAND: 

3 Primary Tricks with or without a re-bid; 

iy 2 Primary Tricks with two long Major suits; 

2 Primary Tricks in biddable Minor suits; or 

2*4 Primary Tricks if hand is a borderline or defensive type. 

Note: A Third hand plays a strategic part, as partner might have 
passed on a fairly strong hand, and again his hand may be weak, mark¬ 
ing adversaries’ hand with the balance of strength. Third hand should, 
therefore, put in his weakest legitimate bid, which partner may agree 
upon or perhaps bluff the adversaries sufficiently to prevent a slam bid 
should they hold the balance of strength. 







26 


A Digest of 


FOURTH HAND: 

3 Primary Tricks, except that hand may contain 2^2 Primary Tricks 
with good re-bid values; and provided ample protection against a 
possible adverse major suit; declaration, as both opponents have 
originally passed and they might get together on one of the major 
suits at their next chance. 

Types of Hands 

There are three types of hands— Aggressive, Defensive and Border¬ 
line, and the hands shown below are illustrative of their general con¬ 
struction : 

FIRST AND SECOND HAND OPENINGS: 

Aggressive 


Spades — KQxxx 

KQxxxx 

AJIOx 

*KJ10xxx Axxxxx 

Kx 

Hearts — Axxxx 

none 

none 

KQxxxx 

A 

AKxxxxx 

Diamonds none 

KQxxx 

AJ9x 

X 

none 

xxxx 

Clubs — Kxx 

Kx 

Kxxxx 

none 

QlOxxxx 

none 

Bid — 1 A 

1 A 

1 * 

1 A 

1 A 

1 ¥ or Pass 

* Freak 2 suiters. 








Defensive 



Spades — KQx 

AQxx 

Axx 

Kxx 

AKxx 


Hearts — AQxxx 

xxxx 

QJx 

Jxx 

xxx 


Diamonds xx 

AQxx 

AKxx 

Axx 

Axx 


Clubs — Kxx 

X 

xxx 

AQJx 

xxx 


Bid— 1 ¥ 

Pass 

1 ♦ 

1 * 

Pass 




Borderline 



Spades — AQxx 

KJ109 

Jxxxx 




Hearts — KQxxx 

XX 

AQ 




Diamonds xx 

AKxxx 

A 




Clubs — xx 

XX 

Jxxxx 




Bid— 1 ¥ 

1 ♦ 

1 A 




THIRD HAND OPENINGS: 





Acgressive 

Defensive Borderline 


Spades — xxx 

Kxxxxx 

Kxx 

AQxxx 



Hearts — KQxxx 

KQxxx 

Axx 

KQxxx 



Diamonds none 

X 

xxx 

XX 



Clubs — AlOxxx 

X 

AQxx 

X 



Bid— 1 ¥ 

1 A 

1 A 

1 A 





The One-Over-One Principle 


2? 


FOURTH HAND OPENINGS: 

Spades —■ AQxx QlOxx 

Hearts — AJIOx AQxx 

Diamonds QJx AJIOx 

Clubs — xx x 


x 


Kx 

KQxxx 

KQxxx 

Pass 


AJxxxx 
KJ xxxx 
x 

none 


Bid— 1 A IV 


1 A 


Note: These hands, when having an opening bid, have ample pro¬ 
tection in both Major suits. 

Responses to Opening Bid of One in Suit 

The minimum requirement for a response to a bid of one in a suit 
is a biddable four or five card suit, with at least one trick of secondary 
value and at least one Primary Trick, or a six card suit and 1 Primary 
Trick. If weaker than that, respond with 1 No-Trump, holding a mini¬ 
mum of 2 Queens and 1 Jack, or a King and Jack or a Queen and Jack. 
You should hold no singleton. If hand does not contain the above, pass. 

Should your partner bid a diamond and the adversaries over-call 
with a Heart, your raise to two Diamonds should not be made on a 
weaker hand than: Spades K-x-x, Hearts x-x, Diamonds Q-10-x-x, Clubs 
K-Q-x-x. 

If partner opens with a bid of one of a suit, and next hand passes, 
and you respond with a bid of one in a higher ranking suit (not No- 
Trump), the opening bidder is forbidden to pass. 

A 1 No-Trump response is a discouraging reply and should be a 
sign-off, unless original bidder has additional re-bids. 

° A minimum re-bid of a suit is a sign-off. If original bidder desires 
to keep bidding open, he makes a secondary forcing bid, or an over¬ 
call of one in a higher ranking suit. The latter requires further response 
from partner. A re-bid of your own suit after a One-Over-One response 
shows at least a five carder. If you re-bid your suit twice, it is a six 
carder, or suit contains great honor values. 


Raising Partner’s Suit Bid When Holding Normal Trump 


Support 


Raising bid from 1 to 2-THREE ASSISTING TRICKS,* or W 2 



* Original bidder should re-bid according to secondary values held. 



28 


A Digest of 


Re-Bids for Partner’s Response to No-Trump Takeout 

ONE NO-TRUMP.—Any SECOND biddable suit containing FOUR 
cards with TWO Honors; or a FIVE-card biddable suit other than the 
first one bid; or a re-bid of the original suit if long and strong enough. 

TWO NO-TRUMP.—If hand contains from 5 to 5% Primary 
Tricks, with all three suits stopped; or a JUMP on second round with 
a SIX-Suiter or longer and not less than five losers; or with a TWO- 
Suiter with not less than five losers. 

Forcing Responses 

(1) One in higher ranking suit. 

(2) Two or three No-Trump. 

(3) Three in lower ranking suit. 

(4) If your side has a part score of 40 or more, and two odd is 
needed, partner must respond. 

Non-Forcing Responses 

(1) One No-Trump shows weakness but affords a favorable re-bid. 

(2) Two in a lower ranking suit—invitational to original bidder. 

Forcing Takeout 

Hand must contain a minimum of three Primary Tricks and Second¬ 
ary values and some strength in partner’s suit. 

Bids of Two in a Suit (Forcing)—Slam Invitation 

Strength must be distributed in three suits. Hand should contain 
a five-card biddable suit, or three strong biddable suits, and not more 
than three losers. 


Response 

Partner should respond (minimum), any five-card suit Queen high, 
or a four-card suit headed by K-Q or A-J. When holding an Ace or 
two Kings and no biddable suit—four or five long, JUMP to three No- 
Trump, otherwise make a negative response of two No-Trump. (There 
is never another occasion to JUMP the bid, as partner is going to keep 
bidding open, and your next bid will show slam possibilities). 

Bids of Three in a Suit (Forcing)—Definite Slam Invitation 

Original suit bids of THREE should contain TEN playing tricks, 
divided in one or two long suits, with not more than THREE losers 
in the hand. Suits should be headed by A-K-Q or K-Q-J. 





The One-Over-One Principle 


29 


Response 

No suit response can be made if that suit lacks the Ace. Any Ace 
must be shown even though it be a singleton or the Ace of the suit 
called by partner. ACE RESPONSE IS THE VITAL FACTOR. It is 
NOT NECESSARY for partner to hold normal Trump support in 
partner’s bid. Lacking an Ace, respond with negative 3 No-Trump. 

No-Trump Bids 

Original No-Trump Bids should be made with the following distri¬ 
butions : 4-3-3-S—4-4-3-2—5-3-3-2. 

The bidding requirement for a bid of One No-Trump is Three Pri¬ 
mary Tricks, plus a Queen or two promotional intermediates. Two 
No-Trump—Four plus Primary Tricks, and Three No-Trump—Five 
plus Primary Tricks. Two or Three No-Trump should not be bid un¬ 
less having ample protection in all suits. 

The placing of the No-Trump bid in the proper hand is of para¬ 
mount importance. A hand containing tenaces should be led up to, 
especially the first lead. A hand of this type should be bid No-Trump 
at the first opportunity. 

Responses to No-Trump Bids 

ONE NO-TRUMP: 

Any biddable suit with Three Primary Tricks and ability to play 
the hand, or bid Three No-Trump or two five-card suits, with Two 
Primary Tricks, when response should be Three. Lacking any of 
the above, bid of Two of a suit must be made with One Primary Trick 
and any five-card suit; or with any six-card suit. With 1V 2 Primary 
Tricks and favorable distribution, BID TWO NO-TRUMP. With 2*4 
plus Primary Tricks, BID THREE NO-TRUMP, 

TWO NO-TRUMP: 

Any biddable five-card suit (or more) hand containing one Pri¬ 
mary Trick. Lacking biddable suit, raise to Three No-Trump with 
one Ace or two Kings (unless holding singleton). If holding single- 
ton, bid best Four card suit. 

THREE NO-TRUMP: 

Partner should respond with a bid in any Six card suit, or a Five 
carder headed with King or Q-J. If holding no Five carder, the bid¬ 
ding should be dropped , unless hand contains sufficient Primary or Sec¬ 
ondary tricks to presume that a Slam might be made. 



30 


A Digest of 


Defensive Bidding 

When NOT-VULNERABLE, weak bids may be made in the hope 
of giving the impression that you hold some strength and thus dis¬ 
courage the adversaries from contracting for game or slam. When 
original bid is one of a suit, hand should contain at least l 1 ^ Primary 
Tricks, ensuring four plus playing tricks. When necessary to overcall 
a bid of two in a suit, hand should contain at least 2 Primary Tricks, 
insuring 5 playing tricks. Sometimes a long suit of 6 or 7 cards may 
have no ill results, and at times may be safer to declare than with 2 
Primary Tricks. Partner should proceed with caution, but if his hand 
contains 5 to 6 playing tricks (2^ to 3 Primary or Secondary Tricks), 
with reasonable trump support, he should carry on. Should his hand 
contain a biddable suit other than those bid, mention of that suit 
should be made, always remembering that the original first or second 
hand bid contains at least 3 Primary Tricks. If partner has already 
passed, extreme caution must be used. 

When vulnerable, extreme caution should be exercised. If all the 
strength is arrayed against you, a weak bid may be doubled and a tre¬ 
mendous penalty may result. When vulnerable, it is never wise to put 
in a defensive overcall with less than 2^ Primary Tricks and hand 
containing less than 7 playing tricks. 

When overcall is a sacrifice bid, to save 1st game it is worth a 400 
penalty. To save second game it is never worth more than 600 penalty. 
The exception is that a slight increase in these penalties might be made 
to defeat a probable slam by opponents. 

The Business or Informatory Doubles are of the same nature as 
those shown in the Approach-Forcing Method. 

The Jump following bid (overcall), while not absolutely forcing is 
highly invitational. It may be made on a hand with a minimum of 2 
Primary Tricks, some Secondary values and hand should contain at 
least 6 playing tricks. It almost always shows a two-suiter, although 
it may be made on one long suit, not quite long enough to warrant an 
informatory double. 

The partner should respond to the Jump following bid if he holds 
1 Primary Trick and any bid or raise; as if the Jump Bid was made 
on a complete two-suiter, as is usual, one of the suits may fit both 
hands. 

Any bid of the opponents’ suits, provided partner has not bid, shows 
4 Primary Tricks. (A void in their bid suit or any suit not bid by part¬ 
ner is equivalent to 1 Primary Trick.) If partner has bid, it shows 
at least 3V 2 Primary Tricks and ability to play the hand at partner’s 
suit, or in any other except the one bid by adversaries. It is a forcing 
bid to game and has slam possibilities. 



The One-Over-One Principle 


31 


Slam Bidding 

By using the Ratio Principle (outlined in Approach-Forcing Sec¬ 
tion), slam hands can be detected during the early periods of bidding. 
Should opening bidder be in either 1st or 2 nd position, and partner hold¬ 
ing at least 2 y 2 Primary Tricks, there is a probability of a slam, depend¬ 
ing upon normal trump support and top cards; also favorable distribu¬ 
tion. Holding over 3 Primary Tricks, a slam is almost a certainty. Should 
responding partner answer with a Jump bid, the suit at which the 
final auction will be played should be determined first, before showing 
suit controls (Aces or voids) : When showing suit controls, it is some¬ 
times necessary to make continuing bids before final slam bid is reached. 
Should you have no side Aces, and no further Ace response, it is per- 
missable to bid suits headed by Kings when partner has previously 
shown control of those suits. 



(1) 




(2) 



North South 

Bids 

North 

South 

Bids 

Spades 

QJxx AKxxx 

North 

South 

AQJxx 

Kxxxxx North South 

Hearts 

A xx 

1-D 

1-S 

none 

Kxxx 

1-S 3-S 

D’mds 

AKxxx x 

*4-S 

5-C 

Qxxx 

Ax 

4-C 4-D 

Clubs 

xxx AQxxx 

5-H 

6 -S 

AKxx 

XX 

4-H 6 -S 

* A 

jump to game in 

the One-Over-One Method is 

absolutely fore- 


ing to Slam. In both above illustrations it is noted that just as soon 
as a, suit is decided upon, Aces and voids are bid to show suit control. 
In Example (2), due to favorable distribution, 5^ Primary Tricks take 
the 12 tricks for the small slam. North’s void in the Heart suit is 
equivalent to 1 Primary Trick. Therefore the Honor Tricks count as 
6 x /2 in the combined hands. Definite Slam invitations are: 

Opening bid of two or three in a suit or Three No-Trump. 

An immediate JUMP to game in response to partner. 

A response of Three No-Trump to a bid of one in a suit. 

A bid of the opponent’s suit. 

Any bid over game. 

A Jump bid in response to 1st or 2nd hand opening bid. 



















Ctf 

N3 


CO 

s 

p 

r* 

i—<• 

O 

3 

P 


o 

O 

i-; 

— • 

3 

CTQ 

O 

o 

3 - 

ro 

H 

3? 

ro 

o 

r-^ 

<’ 

CO 

2 

O 

CO 

2 

O' 

f* 


72 


W 

l\5 


OO 

OJ 























































































SECTION 3 

POPULAR VARIATIONS OF CONTRACT BRIDGE 

As the Official, Vanderbilt and Boland Systems, as played today, 
are so similar to the Approach-Forcing System, we do not deem it 
essential to give any detailed outline of these various methods. While 
higher valuations are placed on certain combinations offensively, that 
table of values must be discounted defensively. However, we do not find 
this to be a handicap when playing with or against those using the 
Approach-Forcing principle. 

The one (2% H. T.), two (3% H. T.), and three (4% H. T.) bids 
of the Official are quite easily understood, and by employing the method 
of Honor Trick valuations in combined hands as advocated by the au¬ 
thors, and shown under Approach-Forcing section, responding partner 
can obtain an almost immediate knowledge of the worth of the hands. 
We believe that this method of bidding as prescribed by the Official 
system borders upon rqason and common sense, but those using it must 
take distributional factors as a guide. 

All forcing bids in the Official System are the same as in the Ap¬ 
proach-Forcing, except the Original Bid, for which the “Artificial” two 
Club bid convention is used. It has no particular suit significance and 
the hand may be void of the Club suit. The RESPONSE of partner 
must be two Diamonds when lacking ONE ACE and ONE KING. When 
holding this requirement, response is biddable suit or TWO NO-TRUMP. 
When forcing bidder re-bids short of game, the response is still NO- 
TRUMP still lacking the ACE-KING requirement, as the opening bid¬ 
der guarantees a game though partner laeks but little support. 

All forcing bids in the Boland method are the same as the Approach- 
Forcing. The Boland method permits an “Artificial” one Club conven¬ 
tion, which may or may not have any Club significance. The one Club 
bid is made originally when hand contains from 3^2 to 4 1 /2 Honor 
Tricks not vulnerable, or 4 to 4 1 /2 when vulnerable. This permits at 
least one round of bidding, before original bidder discloses his suit. 
Partner’s RESPONSE, when holding less than two Honor Tricks, is 
one Diamond. Jump bid of two Diamonds indicates minimum of 2 
Honor Tricks and biddable Diamond suit. When holding 2 Honor 
Tricks he should bid his biddable suit or if not biddable suit, response 
is One No-Trump. If original bidder is not making an “artificial” 
Club bid and response is one Diamond, original bidder bids two Clubs. 
But if hand is a “Boland” with a biddable Club suit, original bidder 
should JUMP to three Clubs. Partner’s response should be any biddable 
suit. The Boland and Vanderbilt methods are quite similar, except that 
the Vanderbilt Club bid may be made on 3 Honor Tricks, depending on 
suit distribution. 


34 




SECTION 4 

SOUND PRINCIPLES OF CONTRACT BRIDGE 
(Common Sens© Method) 

By FRANK E. BOURGET and E. J. TOBIN 

The authors of this treatise, having made an intensive and unbiased 
study of the various systems of Contract Bridge, feel that it is time 
that some one project a common sense method of bidding Contract 
Bridge. A method which would be acceptable to all present day play¬ 
ers, incorporating many of the good points of the present systems, yet 
concise and understandable. 

For reasons generally known to most people, there is but little hope 
for a unification of the three most popular systems, and in view of that 
regrettable fact, we submit to the bridge playing public our interpreta¬ 
tion of what a common sense system should be. 

We are in accord with the Official and Approach-Forcing methods 
insofar as Jump-Shift, Bid of the Opponent’s Suit, Doubling, and Sec¬ 
ondary Forcing Bids are concerned. 

We believe that an original bid, whether forcing or not, should be 
made on a natural sound opening and in a suit which would be capable 
of playing the auction if called upon to do so. 

We believe that the spread from 2 1 /2 to 5V2 Honor Tricks for the 
bid of One is too dangerous and that many games have been lost, 
especially when original bidder holds 4 V 2 or 5 Honor Tricks and part¬ 
ner passes, holding less than the usual iy 2 Honor Tricks. Therefore, 
we prescribe an intermediate Three bid to denote that holding, which 
is semi-forcing, enabling responding partner to keep bidding open when 
holding as little as One King with normal trump support or 1 Honor 
Trick when lacking support of partner’s suit bid. When holding 2 
Honor Tricks and normal trump support, or when holding 2 x / 2 Honor 
Tricks and lacking support in partner’s suit, a forcing response should 
be made, as the total combined Honor Tricks, under favorable distri¬ 
bution, should result in a slam. In response to a forcing takeout, fur¬ 
ther bidding should be made on suit controls (voids or Aces). Mini¬ 
mum response is a sign-off. 

Inasmuch as original Forcing Two Bids permit several responses 
and re-bids before reaching game level, and that sufficient Honor Trick 
strength is held by original bidder to guarantee game, responding part¬ 
ner needs but One Ace and normal trump support, or V-/ 2 Honor Tricks 
when lacking that support to give a forcing response. Lacking these 
requirements, negative response of 1 No-Trump should be made. Hold¬ 
ing 2y 2 Honor Tricks, respond with 4 No-Trump, 3 Honor Tricks bid 

35 


36 


Sound Principles of Contract Bridge 


5 No-Trump, still lacking normal trump support. 

In originally bidding No-Trump, we prefer the 4-3-2-1 count method, 
but the Rule of Eight may be used by those who prefer it. A No-Trump 
should be originally bid, when lacking a natural biddable suit and 
having the proper requirements, especially when holding tenace cards, 
inviting the lead to that hand instead of through it. 

Original suit bidding requirements are recognized as (1) Any Four 
card suit headed by at least an A-K, A-Q-J or K-Q-10; (2) Any Five 
card suit headed by 1 Honor Trick; (3) Any Six card suit headed 
by at least % Honor Trick and (4) Any Seven card suit or longer 
irrespective of Honor Tricks, provided, however, that when bidding a 
Four card suit the hand contains a minimum of 3 Honor Tricks and 
when bidding a Five card suit or longer, that the hand contains a 
minimum of 2 1 /2 Honor Tricks. 

We use the “Rule of Eight” as a basis for measuring the value of 
Honor Tricks and their relation to playing tricks. The world’s greatest 
bridge authorities have placed their stamp of approval on this “Yard¬ 
stick” principle. The Rule of Eight means that, as a rule, eight high 
cards, Aces and Kings (Queens when Aces kill Kings), and Five lower 
cards take the thirteen cards played in each deal. This applies pri¬ 
marily to No-Trump hands, where there are no ruffing tricks. However, 
as there are usually One, Two and sometimes Three ruffing tricks in 
suit bids, which would not take in No-Trump bids, that allowance is 
conservatively made by taking the average (1 to 1 y 2 H. T.), and de¬ 
ducting them from the High Cards, thereby changing the ratio from 
8-5 to C 1 /}-7 High Cards (Honor Tricks), and the balance lower cards. 

After an examination of thousands of hands we have found that the 
Honor Trick combinations in the combined hands, (where normal 
trump support is held by responding partner), produced the following 
playing tricks: 

4 Honor Tricks produce 8 Playing Tricks 
41/2 Honor Tricks produce 9 Playing Tricks 

5 Honor Tricks produce 10 Playing Tricks 
S 1 /^ Honor Tricks produce 11 Playing Tricks 
6-6^2 Honor Tricks produce 12 Playing Tricks 
6^-7 Honor Tricks produce 13 Playing Tricks 

In cases where normal trump support is not held by responding 
hand, we find that the 8-5 Ratio as applying to No-Trump bids, which is 
shown below, should be used: 

4^/2 Honor Tricks produce 7 Playing Tricks 
5 Honor Tricks produce 8 Playing Tricks 
5^2*6 Honor Tricks produce 9 Playing Tricks 




By Frank E. Bourcet and E. J. Tobin 


37 


6 Y 2 Honor Tricks produce 10 Playing Tricks 

7 Honor Tricks produce 11 Playing Tricks 

7V2-8 Honor Tricks produce 12 Playing Tricks 

8-8V 2 Honor Tricks produce 13 Playing Tricks 

But in cases where Original suit bidder has a re-biddable suit (Four 
card suits are not re-biddable), responding partner may consider any 
Honor plus or three small trumps as the equivalent to normal trump 
support. In that case, the 6V2-7 Honor Trick rule may be used. 

We prescribe the following Honor Trick requirements for making 
Original Suit bids of 1, 2 and 3: 

2 x /2 H. T. (five card suits), or 3 H. T. (four card suits), to and 
including 4 H. T.—Bid 1. 

4 .V 2 H. T. and 5 H. T.—Bid 3 (when hand is not of No-Trump pat¬ 
tern ). 

5Vfc H. T. or more Honor Tricks—Bid 2. 

Pre-emptive (shut-out) bids of Four and Five should be made in 
Major and Minor suits respectively, when hand is weak defensively, 
but. when trump suit is very long and strong and contains a minimum 
of eight playing tricks for a major and nine playing tricks for a minor 
suit. 

W 7 e show under Section 1 (Approach-Forcing Method), the fr/z-l 
Honor Trick Schedule for responding to suit bids of One, and we pre¬ 
scribe that the same basis be used here. 

The following Honor Trick Table of Valuations should be used: 


21/2 

2 

1 % 

Honor Tricks 

Honor Tricks 

Honor Tricks 

*AKQxx 

AKQJ 

AQ 

AK 

sAJlO 


AQJ 

*KQJ 

1 

% 


Honor Trick 

Honor Trick 


A 

Kx 


KQ 

sQJx 


sKJx 




* Trump suit only, s Supporting hand, or re-bid values or No-Trump. 


The reason we place the 2V 2 Honor Trick value on the A-K-Q-x-x 
in trump suit is because it reasonably guarantees five playing tricks. 
This value should be changed to 2 Honor Tricks, provided partner has 
not supported the suit bid. However, when bidding on this combina¬ 
tion. hand should contain some honors of secondary value. 

It will be noted that the value placed on Honors to be bid orig¬ 
inally are those which should take in the first or second rounds of their 



38 


Sound Principles of Contract Bridce 


suit, and those of secondary value may take, provided auction is played 
in partner’s bid. 

This method of valuing Honor Tricks conforms more closely to the 
Rule of Eight than the Approach-Forcing, as it will be noted that, when 
placed in any combination, they will total 8 Honor Tricks, thereby cre¬ 
ating a very sound base for original appraisal. 

WE DO NOT SUBSCRIBE TO ANY “ARTIFICIAL” BIDS. 

We are in accord with the other principles of the Approach-Forcing, 
One-Over-One, and Official Systems which do not conflict with this out¬ 
line. 

Any Jump by Original Bidder in first named suit is forcing if game 
level has not been reached. 

Original Three-Suit Bids 
Dealer 
A AKxxx or 
KQlOxx or 
AJIOxx 


1 

I 

2 

V AQx 
♦ AQx 
A xx 

N 

S 

lESPONSE! 

3 

3 

4 

A Qxx 

xxxx 

Qxx 


xxxxx 

V Kxxxx 

XX 

Kxxx 

Kxxx 

♦ XXX 

Jxxx 

XX 


Kxx 

A xx 

KQx 

Axxx 

A 

N.—3 A 

N.—3 A 

N.— 

3 A 

N.—3 A 

S.— 4 A 

S.— 4 A 

S.— 5 A 

S.— 5 A 

5 

6 

N.-—6 A 

7 

N.—6 A 
S.—7 A 
8 

A xx 

X 

Qx 


XXX 

V Kxx 

KJxxx 

XX 


XX 

A Kxx 

xxxx 

Kxxx 

Kxxxx 

A xxxx 

Kxx 

Axxxx 

AKx 

N.— A 

N.—3 A 

N.—3 A 

N.—3 A 

S.—3 N. T. 

S.— 4 V 

S.—44 

S.—4 4 



N.— 

4 A 

N.—5 4 




SECTION 5 

THE PLAY OF THE CARDS 
Declarer’s Trump Management 

(1) There is the ample trump type where both hands are liberally 
supplied with trumps. Draw adverse trumps immediately. 

(2) Where Dummy’s trumps are necessary to ruff short suits or to 
be utilized for entry purposes, postpone leading trumps until dummy’s 
usefulness is exhausted. 

(3 Cross-ruffing type, where declarer and dummy alternately ruff. 
Lead of trumps should be deferred. 

Declarer must determine before he commences to play, (1) Whether 
to take out 'trumps and discard losers on established suits, or (2) 
Whether to ruff losing cards before leading trumps, (3) Whether to 
try to establish a cross-ruff, (4) Whether to take a chance on his own 
high cards being ruffed, (5) What finesses are necessary and study 
the question of entrys in own hand or dummy. 

Declarer’s Play at No-Trump 

No-Trump play is based on, (1) The most promising suit to estab¬ 
lish, (2) Maintaining or creating entries in dummy or closed hand, 

(3) Holding up command of opponent’s suit on first or second round, 
i.e.. Declarer should establish longest suit in the combined hands. With 
suits of equal length, such as 5-3, 4-4, or in some cases 5-2, 4-4, play 
for the one more evenly divided. When two suits of equal top honors 
are held, the general rule is to set up the longer one, except when a 
shorter suit is more readily establishable, and it is possible to make 
game with the shorter suit. 

Finessing 

Be careful not to finesse into a hand which can lead through an 
honor singly guarded in your hand. Where it is necessary to take a 
finesse in order to make your contract, do so early while well supplied 
with entry cards. 

When Not to Finesse 

When holding a long establishable suit. When holding eleven cards 
in the two hands when holding the Ace. When holding ten cards 
including the Ace and King. When holding nine cards including the 
Ace, King and Jack. (When holding nine cards in the two hands with 
King missing, finesse once). 


39 


40 


Play of the Cards 


Declarer must plan his play to maintain or create all entry cards 
in the hand holding the long suit. 

Elimination and End Play 

Elimination play is confined to suit hands.—End play either to suit 
or No-Trump. 

Elimination play creates one of two situations; either an adversary 
is forced to lead toward a ruff and discard or toward a tenace holding 
of declarer or dummy. An End play compells a lead toward a tenace 
holding only. Elimination play may require the stripping of either one, 
two or three suits. End play necessitates the stripping of two or three 
suits. Elimination play may be made as early as the second trick. 
End play is impossible before at least the fifth trick. Elimination play 
requires the player to strip both his own or that of dummy of one or 
more suits. End play requires declarer to force an adversary to strip 
his hand of a certain suit, either by forcing discards or by throwing 
the lead. 

Requirements for Elimination Play 

(1) Sufficient number of trumps so that after opponents’ trumps 
have been drawn, there is at least one trump remaining in both dummy 
and declarer’s hand. (2) Distributions favorable to Elimination, such as: 

Declarer—6 Trumps plus 3-2-2 in side suits 
Dummy —3 Trumps plus 3-3-4 in side suits 
Declarer—5 Trumps plus 4-2-2 in side suits 
Dummy —4 Trumps plus 4-3-2 in side suits 
Declarer—5 Trumps plus 3-3-2 in side suits 
Dummy —4 Trumps plus 4-3-2 in side suits 

Dummy or Declarer should hold one or more high tenace combina¬ 
tions such as: A-Q or K-J. Dummy or Declarer must hold a losing 
card to be used as an exit card, to force certain adversary into the 
lead. Also the proper time should be selected to throw the adversary 
into the lead. This may occur on the second trick and later on with 
two or three suit eliminations. THE PROCEDURE— 

(1) Draw all adverse trumps, then strip dummy and closed hand 
of one or more side suits, leaving no alternative to the opponent who 
is purposely thrown into the lead, but to lead a suit which may he 
ruffed in one hand, allowing a discard in the other; or to lead toward 
one or more tenace holdings. 

End Play Requirements 

(1) Control of one or more suits which may be taken out. 




at Contract Bridge 


41 


(2) A Tenace holding in a suit to which an opponent will even¬ 
tually be forced to lead. 

(3) The holding in closed hand or dummy of a losing or exit card 
to force an opponent into the lead. 

(4) A knowledge of the location of certain high cards which ad¬ 
versaries hold. 

End play lends itself more readily to the play of No-Trump hands. 
In the case of end play at a suit declaration, the trumps of the dummy 
and both adversaries must be drawn. 

Possibilities for End Play 

(1) At No-Trump the suit opened by the adversary should not be 
too long, say not over five cards. 

(2) If the declarer has six cards of the suit opened, distributed 
3-3. or five cards distributed 4-1 and sometimes distributed 3-2. 

(3) Declarer should hold one or more tenaces or one or more com¬ 
bined tenaces. 

(4) The most frequent occurrences of End Play is at the tenth or 
eleventh trick, and the most desirable at the eleventh trick. (Example) 
— The lead of the Ace gives opponents two tricks, the lead of a small 
card gives the declarer two tricks. Declarer, A-Q-x—Opponent, K-10-x 

Defense Code 

(1) Lead of fourth best—(Rule of Eleven). 

(2) The encouraging-card. 

(3) The discouraging card. 

(4) The Echo or high-low card. 

(5) The lead of top of touching honors. 

(6) The play of lower of touching honors. 

(7) The lead of Ace, then King holding only those two of suit. 

(8) Discarding. 

(9) Lead through opponent’s suit when taken out. 

(10) Lead of supporting card as blind lead when holding a suit 
unlikely to be established in first or second round, or tenace holdings. 

Slams 

(1) Should the opening bidder invite the slam after a minimum 
response from his partner, it indicates that the opening bidder has con¬ 
trol of three suits, that is, he can take the first trick either with the 
Ace or being void. 

(2) Should the opening bidder invite the slam after a forcing Take¬ 
out by his partner, it indicates control of two suits. 




42 


Play of the Cards 


(3) Should the responding hand invite the slam after the opening 
one bid by his partner, it indicates control of two suits. 

(4) Should the responding hand invite the slam after an opening 
two bid by his partner, it indicates control of one suit only. 

EXAMPLES: 

(Bid of Two Opening) 

Dealer—Spades K-J-4—Hearts A-8-4-2—Diam. A-Q-6—Clubs K-Q-5 

Partner—Spades A-Q-9-8-7-5—Hearts K—Diam. K-8-3-2—Clubs 8-7 

Dealer two No-Trump—Partner 5 Spades—Dealer 6 Spades 

(Bid of One Opening) 

Dealer—Spades 8—Hearts K-Q-10-6-5-4—Diam. A-6-3—Clubs K-J-4 

Partner—Spades A-J-10-5-4 Hearts A-9-6-3—Diam. K-Q-5—Clubs 5 

Dealer 1 Heart—Partner 2 Spades 

Dealer 3 No-Trump—Partner 5 Hearts—Dealer 6 Hearts. (Partner 
has two controls). 

Rule of Nine 

When the Ace and King appear in the combined hands, and when 
holding nine or more trumps in both hands, do not finesse unless one 
hand shows out on the original lead. The basis of this rule is that each 
adversaries’ hand should contain two cards of the suit lead. 

The Echo 

(Encouraging Card) 

When playing to a trick, the play of an unnecessarily high card, 
and followed by a lower one, indicates command of the third round 
of that suit, either by the high card or ability to ruff. 

The Discard 

There are two schools of discarding, “Positive” and “Negative.” 
We recommend the “Negative,” which means—Partner do not lead 
the suit I discard. The “Positive” means—Partner lead the suit I 
discard. Judgment should always be exercised in protecting Honors 
no matter which system you use. If, however, it is imperative you 
inform your partner of suit control, and have a discard of two an unusual 
high card may be used when not jeopardizing that suit. 



AT Contract Bridge 


43 


Rule of Eleven 

^ ie Eleven is one of the most valuable features of the 

games of Contract and Auction Bridge. . . . This rule works both posi¬ 
tively and negatively, and the information gained from it is of the great¬ 
est value. The cards in all suits rank from 2 to 14—the Jack taking 
the lank of 11, Queen 12, King 13, and Ace 14. Blind leads are 
usually the FOURTH BEST of leaders suit. By deducting from “11” 
the denomination of the card led, we determine the number of higher 
cards that are in the three other hands. To arrive at the arbitrary 
figure of “11” we deduct from “14” (the Ace-top of that suit) the 
THREE held by the leader. Should the rule show that more higher 
cards are out than indicated, the lead must be irregular and all miss¬ 
ing cards must be on your right. 


Applying Rule of Eleven 


DUMMY 

* 42 

V J7(6) 

* A76 

* 10986 


DUMMY 

A (K) 

¥ Q832 

♦ 752 

* QJ632 


Leader Leader 

A (J)9 
¥ 109764 

♦ A63 

* K107 


A J75 

¥ Q108(5)2 

♦ Q104 

* J5 



* 983 
¥ K(9) 

* 985 

* AQ743 


A A108(7)632 
¥ J5 

♦ 94 

* 95 



Declarer 
A AKQ106 
¥ (A)43 

♦ KJ32 

* 2 

(4 Spades Bid) 

South’s bid of 4 Spades is de¬ 
feated by application of Rule of 
Eleven, as the play of 9 of Hearts 
by East draws Ace which is the 
only higher card he could hold. 


Declarer 
A Q5(4) 

¥ AK 
♦ KQJ108 
A A84 

(3 No-Trump Bid) 

East’s clever card reading by 
unblocking in playing Spade-Jack 
as he feels South holds either Ten 
or Queen, permits West to finesse 
with Ten and prevents game at 
No-Trump by South. 







44 


Play of the Cards 


Applying Rule of Eleven 


DUMMY 
A (A)QJ53 
¥ Q63 

♦ J42 

* A3 

Leader 

A (6) 

¥ J102 
♦ K1075 
A K10952 


Declarer 
A 108(7) 

¥ AK854 
♦ Q963 

A J 

(4 Hearts Bid) 

The 6 of Spades is spotted as 
a singleton, as otherwise it would 
denote only 5 cards higher. As 
there are six in Dummy’s and De¬ 
clarer’s hand, Declarer must place 
King in East’s hand. By playing 
Dummy’s Ace, Contract of 4 
Hearts was made, otherwise the 
contract would have been de¬ 
feated. 


DUMMY 
A 82 
¥ 965 
♦ AQ1095 
A J5(3) 

Leader 
A AJ65 
¥ K3 
♦ 32 

A K108(7)4 

Declarer 
A KQ10 
¥ A1087 
♦ J4 

A A(Q)96 
(3-No-Trump) 

The play of the Queen of Clubs 
by South creates a re-entry in 
North’s hand by establishing Jack, 
by being able to lead twice to it 
with 9 and 6, thereby making 
game contract which could have 
been defeated otherwise. 



A K94(2) 
¥ 97 
♦ A8 
A Q8764 



A 9743 
¥ QJ42 
♦ K876 
A ( 2 ) 







at Contract Bridge 


45 


Dealer, South 


Dealer, South 


When to Stop Leading Trumps. 

When adversary holds equal 
number of trump as declarer. 


A 2 

¥ KQ43 

♦ (A)654 

* 7654 


A 87654 
V A107 
♦ (K)QJ 
A K2 


* K3 
¥ J52 

♦ (3)2 

A AJ10983 


N 

W E 
S 


A AQJ109 
¥ 986 
♦ 1098(7) 

A Q 


S— 

Pass 

w— 

1 N. T. 

N— 

Pass 

E— 

2 A 

S— 

Bids 2 A 


Final Bid: 2A. Played by S. 
Initial Lead: K ♦ by W. 

Essential that Spade overcall be 
made to direct North’s lead in case 
of a final No-Trump bid. 


Force Advantageous Lead from 
Original Leader. 


A Q62 
¥ (K)QJ2 
♦ K94 
A J86 


S—3HT 
W— 

N—2HT 
E— 

S— 


A K94 
¥ 10 ( 6 ) 
♦ A1065 
A Q532 


N 

W E 
S 


A A10873 
¥ (A).8 
♦ Q872 
A A10 

1A 

Pass 

3 A 

Pass 
Rebids 4 


A J5 

¥ 97(5)43 

♦ J3 
A K974 


5HT or 10 Playing Tricks 

Final Bid: 4A. Played by S. 
Initial Lead: K¥ by W. 

South returns Heart and com¬ 
pels West to lead into tenaces. 







46 


Play of the Cards 


EXAMPLE OF END PLAY 


Deal No. 1—Dealer, South 
Stripping Adversaries of One Suit 


A KQ83 
V A86 
♦ 852 
A 75(4) 


* J9 
V Q95 

* K73 

* (K)Q1096 



A 7642 
V 1074 
♦ J1097 
A (J)8 



A A105 
V KJ32 


♦ AQ6 

A A3(2) 

S—4y 2 HT 

2 N. T. 

w— 

Pass 

N —2HT 

3 N. T. 

E— 

Pass 


6%HT or 10 Playing Tricks 

Final Bid: 3 N. T. Played by S. 
Initial Lead: KA by W. 


The Play 



W. 

N. 

S. 

1 

K Clubs 

4 Clubs 

2 Clubs 

2 

Q Clubs 

5 Clubs 

A Clubs 

3 

J Spades 

3 Spades 

A Spades 

4 

9 Spades 

8 Spades 10 Spades 

5 

3 Dia. 

Q Spades 5 Spades 

6 

6 Clubs 

K Spades Q Dia. 

7 

9 Clubs 

7 Clubs 

3 Clubs 

8 

10 Clubs 

2 Dia. 

6 Dia. 

9 

5 Hts. 

6 Hts. 

J Hts. 

10 

9 Hts. 

A Hts. 

2 Hts. 

11 

Q Hts. 

8 Hts. 

K Hts. 

12 

7 Dia. 

5 Dia. 

3 Hts. 

13 

K Dia. 

8 Dia. 

A Dia. 


Remarks 


By eliminating Spade suit, fore- 


ing West into two discards and 
putting West into lead with Club, 
forcing him to play away from 
singly guarded King of Diamonds 
or Queen-three of Hearts. Declar¬ 
er’s discard of Diamond Queen 
may be a false card. 


NOTE: The bidding of the following Hand Examples is based 
strictly on the 8:5 Ratio (Rule of Eight) for No-Trump bids, and the 
authors’ 65/2-7 Rule for suit bids. 








at Contract Bridge 


47 


EXAMPLE OF END PLAY 


Deal No. 2—Dealer, South 
Stripping an Adversary of Two 

Suits The Play 



A 432 



W. 

N. 

S. 


V Q(3) 


1 

8 Hts. 

3 Hts. 

10 Hts. 


♦ AK32 


2 

9 Dia. 

A Dia. 

6 Dia. 


A A76 


3 

10 Dia. 

K Dia. 

7 Dia. 





4 

Q Dia. 

2 Dia. 

8 Dia. 

A KJ5 



A 1076 

5 

K Hts. 

Q Hts. 

A Hts. 

V KJ9(8)7 


N 

V 65(4) 

6 

7 Hts. 

3 Dia. 

J Dia. 

* Q109 


W E 

o 

♦ 54 

7 

3 Clubs 

A Clubs 

2 Clubs 

A Q3 


s 

A 109854 

8 

Q Clubs 

6 Clubs 

K Clubs 





9 

9 Hts. 

7 Clubs 

2 Hts. 


A AQ98 


10 

J Hts. 

2 Spades 

8 Spades 


V A(10)2 


11 

5 Spades 

3 Spades Q Spades 


♦ J876 


12 

JSpades 

4 Spades A Spades 


A K2 


13 

K Spades 2 Dia. 

9 Spades 


3HT 1 N. T. 

2V 

-3HT 3 ♦ 

Pass 

Rebids 3 N. T. • 


6HT or 9 Playing Tricks 

Final Bid: 3 N. T. Played by 
S. Initial Lead: 8 V by W. 

Rule of Eight requirement for 3 
No-Trump. 4-3-2-1 count of 27, 
requirement for 3 No-Trump. 


Remarks 

After stripping West (the over¬ 
caller) of two suits, Diamonds and 
Clubs, forcing him to discard on 
the 6th round, Declarer then 
forces West into lead with a Heart 
on the 9th round, insuring Declar¬ 
er a lead into his Spade tenace. 

The play of East hand is of no¬ 
consequence. 





48 


Play of the Cards 


EXAMPLE OF END PLAY 

Deal No. 3—Dealer, South 

Stripping Adversaries of Three 
Suits 


A K82 
V K87 
A A Q43 
A 109(5) 


A J1053 

V 9 

♦ 652 

A A(K)763 


A AQ7 
V AQ1032 

♦ 987 

* J(4) 

IV 

2 A 

3 V 

Pass 

Rebids 4 V 


The Play 



W. 

N. 

E. 

s. 

1 

K Cl. 


8 Cl. 


2 

A Cl. 


2 Cl. 


3 

3 Cl. 

10 Cl. 

Q Cl. 

2 Hts. 

5 


7 Hts. 

5 Hts. 

10 Hts. 

11 


4 Dia. 

10 Dia. 

9 Dia. 

12 


QDia. 

J Dia. 

8 Dia. 

13 


A Dia. 

K Dia. 

7 Dia. 



Rem 

ARKS 



By stripping Spades, Clubs and 
Hearts, finessing with ten of Hearts 
on 5th round and South’s play of 
nine of Diamonds on 11th play, 
ducking by North compels East in¬ 
to a trap on 12th play. 



A 964 
V J654 
♦ KJ10 
A Q(8)2 


S—3HT 
W— 

N—2y 2 HT 
E— 

S— 


5%HT or 10 Playing Tricks 

North’s hand counts only 2 Hon¬ 
or Tricks on account of 3-3-3-4 
distribution. 

Final Bid: 4V. Played by S. 
Initial Lead: KA by W. 

North —4-3-3-3 distribution. No 
ruffing tricks. Suit value but 2HT. 
Raise the same as having but 2HT. 

South —Rebids to 4 account of 
holding ^HT over minimum re¬ 
quirement. Combined hand actu¬ 
ally counts 5HT or 10- Playing 
Tricks. 







at Contract Bridge 


49 


RULE OF ELEVEN 
Dial No. 4—Dealer, South 
Declarer Unblocks 


A 743 
V J1063 

♦ AJ (9) 

* 1054 


A J96 

N 

W E 
s 

A 5 

¥ Q94 

¥ K852 

♦ Q108(7) 

A 654(2) 

A 872 


A J963 

A AKQ1082 

V A7 
♦ (K)3 

A AKQ 


S— 51 / 2 HT 

2 A 


W— 

Pass 


N—1HT 

2 N. T. 


E— 

Pass 


S— 

Rebids 3 A 

w— 

Pass 


N— 

4 A 


E— 

Pass 


S— 

Rebids 6 A 


6 V 2 HT or 12 Playing Tricks 

Final Bid: 7 A. Played by S. 
Initial Lead: 7 ♦ by W. 

By playing King of Diamonds, 
permits finesse of Jack and allows 
Heart discard. 


Deal No. 5—Dealer, South 
A Double Duck 


A 986 


¥ A10973 

♦ 42 

A 97(3) 


A 432 

N 

W E 

C 

A QJ75 

¥ K65 

¥ QJ 

♦ J105 

♦ Q973 

A A105(2) 

O 

A 8(6)4 


A AK10 
V 842 
♦ AK 86 


A (K)QJ 

S—5HT 

2N.T. 


W— 

Pass 


N— 1 HT 

3V 


E— 

Pass 


S— 

Rebids 3 N.T. 

W— 

Pass 


N— 

Pass 


E— 

Pass 



6 HT or 9 Playing Tricks 

Final Bid: 3 N. T. Played by S. 
Initial Lead: 2A by W. 

When in. South leads two Hearts 
and fsets up dummy. 

jjiuk- / 







50 


Play of the Cards 


Deal No. 6—Dealer, South Deal No. 7—Dealer, South 

The Duck—Preserve the Entry Elimination of Two Suits 



A AK952 

A K75 


¥ 765 

¥ K52 



♦ 65 


♦ J843 


A 1065 

A 106(4) 

A J64 


A Q107 A Q632 

w 

A J1098 

¥ KJ4 

IN 

¥ 1098 ¥ 873 

IN 

Yf7 T? 

¥ Q1064 

♦ K97(4)2 

VV E 
c 

♦ (Q)83 4 6 

VV E 

s 

4 Q109 

* 95 

0 

AQJ83 A (Q)J953 

yj 

A (A)2 

A 83 

A A4 


¥ AQ32 

V AJ9 



♦ (A)J10 

4 AK752 

* AK72 

A K8(7) 


S— 41 / 2 -J-HT 1 * 

S— 41 / 2 HT 

34 


W— 

Pass 

W— 

Pass 


N—2HT 

1 A 

N—1HT 

54 


E— 

Pass 

E— 

Pass 


S— 

Rebids 3 N. T. 



w— 

Pass 

rinal Bid: 

: 5 4- Played by 

N— 

Pass 

Initial Lead: 

QA by W. 

E— 

Pass 





- S^HT or 11 Playing Tricks 

O^-j-HT or 10 Playing Tricks 


Final Bid: 3 N. T. Played by S. 
Initial Lead: 4 4 by W. 

South leads 8 of Spades and 
ducks in dummy. 










at Contract Bridge 


51 


Deal No. 8—Dealer, South 
Leave Trump Entry in Dummy 

A 1098 
¥ 108 

♦ KQJ10 
A (A)872 

A 765 
¥ QJ 
♦ A763 
A (K)QJ10 

A AKQJ2 
¥ A975 

♦ 2 

A 65(4) 

3HT 1 A 

2 A 

2HT 2 ♦ 

Pass 

Rebids 3 A 
Pass 

Rebids 4 A 
Pass 


5HT or 10 Playing Tricks 


Deal No. 9—Dealer, South 

Avoid a dangerous finesse and note 
Heart suit led by West is five long. 
Do not take Heart until third 
round. 

A AQ4 
¥ A95 
♦ A10965 
A 108 

A 983 

¥ K108(6)2 
♦ 842 
A K5 


A KJ10 
¥ J3 
♦ QJ 

A AQJ942 

1 * 

Pass 

Rebids 3 N. T. 

Pass 

Pass 

Pass 



A 43 
¥ K6432 

♦ 9854 

* (9)3 



A 7652 
¥ (Q)74 
♦ K73 
A 763 


S—2i/ 2 HT 
W— 

N—3y 2 HT 
E— 

S— 

w— 

N— 

E— 


Final Bid: 4A. Played by S. - 

Initial Lead: K«fc by W. 6HT or 9 Playing Tricks 

Final Bid: 3 N. T. Played by S. 
Initial Lead: 6¥ by W. 









52 


Play of the Cards 


Deal No. 10—Dealer, South 

When to hold up with a possibility 
of two tricks in the suit. 


A Q (6) 
V A103 
♦ 876 
A A10943 


A AJ9(8)5 

N 

W E 

c 

A (10)73 

V 965 
♦ .193 

y QJ42 
♦ Q1054 

A 76 

0 

A K5 

A K4(2) 
V K87 


♦ AK2 

A QJ82 


S—3V 2 HT 

1 N. T. 


W— 

Pass 


N—2-bHT 

2 N. T. 


E— 

Pass 


S— 

Rebids 3 N. T. 

W— 

Pass 


N— 

Pass 


E— 

Pass 



Deal No. 11—Dealer, South 
Hold up with K-J-x. 

A (6)3 
V 432 
♦ AK974 
A J97 


A A108(7)54 


A (Q)2 

¥ K86 


N 

V .11075 

♦ J 


W E 

c 

♦ Q32 

A 432 


0 

A 10865 


A KJ (9) 



y AQ9 



♦ 

10865 



A AKQ 


S—4i/ 2 HT 

2 N. T. 


W— 

Pass 


N—2HT 

3 ♦ 


E— 

Pass 


S— 

Rebids 3 N. T. 

w— 

Pass 


N— 

Pass 


E— 

Pass 



5^2-j-HT or 9 Playing Tricks 

Final Bid: 3 N. T. Played by S. 
Initial Lead: 8 A. 


6%>HT or 10 Playing Tricks 

Final Bid: 3 N. T. Played by 
South. Initial Lead: 7 A by West. 








at Contract Bridge 


53 


Deal No. 12—Dealer, South 

When Not to Hold Up Command¬ 
ing Cards 


A 10(5) 

¥ K87 

♦ KJ1083 

* 542 


A K97(6)2 

N 

W E 

c 

A (Q)43 

¥ Q52 

¥ .1964 

♦ 52 

♦ A64 

A K107 

0 

A Q83 

A (A)J8 
¥ A103 
♦ Q97 

A AJ96 


S—4+HT 

IN. T. 


W— 

Pass 


N— 1%HT 

2 ♦ 


E— 

Pass 


S— 

Rebids 3 N. T. 

W— 

Pass 


N— 

Pass 


E— 

Pass 



or 9 Playing Tricks 

Final Bid: 3 N. T. Played by S. 
Initial Lead: QA by E. 

The J-10A combination wins the 
3rd Round. Establish ♦. leaving 
KV as re-entry if necessary. 


Deal No. 13 —Dealer, East 

Force No-Trump Bidder to Lead 
Also hy Eliminating One Suit. 

A J(10) 

¥ KJ8 
♦ Q764 
A AQ52 

A 865(4)3 
¥ 53 
♦ J2 
A 10984 


A (A)7 
¥ A9742 
♦ A1083 
A 63 

E— 1 N. T. 

S—3HT 2 ¥ 

W— Pass 

N—2%+HT 4¥ 


5 ^2+HT or 10+ Playing Tricks 

Final Bid: 4 ¥. Played by S. 
Initial Lead: QA by E. 

S returns Spade. 



A K(Q)92 
¥ Q106 
♦ K95 
A KJ7 











54 


Play of the Cards 


Deal No. 14 —Dealer, South 

Postpone Leading Trump to Dis¬ 
card Losers. 


Deal No. 15— Dealer, South 

Postpone Leading Trump to Dis¬ 
card Losers. 


A 9832 
¥ (A)94 
♦ AKQ 
A 654 


A 6 

¥ AQ65 
♦ Q652 
A KQ3(2) 


A A6 
¥ (K) QJ2 
♦ J1042 
A A83 


N 

W E 
S 


A 

¥ 

♦ 

* 


54 

ao)7 

987653 

972 


A 85 
¥ J432 

♦ A 98 

* (J)1098 


N 

W E 
S 


A A92 

¥ 10987 

♦ .11074 

* (6)4 


A KQJ107 
¥ 865(3) 

♦ none 

* KQJ10 


A KQJ10743 

¥ K 

♦ K3 
A (A) 75 


-2%+HT 1A 

Double 

-3HT 4 A 
Pass 


S—3HT 1A 

W— Pass 

N—2 1 /2+HT 2 N. T. 

E—- Pass 

S — Rebids 4 A 


5V2+HT or 11 Playing Tricks 

Final Bid: 4A. Played by S. 
Initial Lead: K¥ by W. 


5 V 2 HT or 11 Playing Tricks 

Final Bid: 4A. Played by S. 
Initial Lead: JA by W. 

Lacking normal trump support. 
North’s honor trick holding counts 
V2 less. 

By discarding K-3 ♦ on Hearts, 
12 tricks are made. 









at Contract Bridge 


55 


Deal No. 16—Dealer, South 
Postpone Trump Lead to Ruff in 



Dummy. 



A 432 
¥ 3(2) 

♦ A432 
A A432 


A 987 

N 

W E 
c 

A 65 

¥ (K)QJ9 

¥ 1087(6) 

♦ KQ8 

♦ J1097 

A 987 

*3 

A QJ10 


A AKQJ10 
¥ (A)54 



♦ 65 

A K65 

S_3i/ 2 HT 

1A 

W— 

Pass 

N—2HT 

1N.T. 

E— 

Pass 

S— 

Rebids 4 A 


S^HT or 10 Playing Tricks 
Final Bid: 4 A. Played by S. 
Initial Lead: K¥ by W. 

Lacking normal trump support. 
North’s honor trick holding counts 
% less. 

Ruff 1 losing Heart in dummy. 
Take with Ace of Hearts and re¬ 
turn 4 of Hearts. 


Deal No. 17—Dealer, South 

Postpone Trump Lead to Put Dum¬ 
my in Lead for Finessing Trumps. 

A 54 
¥ 5(4) 

♦ 109876 
A KQ65 

A 1032 
¥ (Q)J1032 
♦ 543 
A 87 



A AQJ98 
¥ (A)K 
♦ A2 

A A432 

S—5i/ 2 HT 

2 A 

W— 

Pass 

N—1HT 

2 N. T. 

E— 

Pass 

S— 

Rebids 3 A 

w— 

Pass 

N— 

Rebids 4 A 

E— 

Pass 

S— 

Rebids 6 A 


6 ^HT or 12 Playing Tricks 

Final Bid: 6A. Played by S, 
Initial Lead: Q¥ by W. 



A K76 
¥ 9876 
♦ KQJ 
A J109 











56 


Play of the Cards 


PROGRESSIVE BRIDGE FOR 16 PLAYERS 

(No person plays with or against the 

same one more 

than once) 


Table 1 Table 2 

Table 3 

Table 4 

1st Round 

1-2-3-4 5-6-7-8 

9-10-11-12 

13-14-15-16 

2nd Round 

1-5-9-13 2-8-10-14 

3-6-11-16 

4-7-12-15 

3rd Round 

1-6-10-15 2-7-9-16 

3-5-12-14 

4-8-11-13 

4th Round 

1-7-11-14 2-6-12-13 

3-8-9-15 

4-5-10-16 

5th Round 

1-8-12-16 2-5-11-15 

3-7-10-13 

4-6-9-14 

Person 

Round 

Person 

Round 

No. 

1 2345 

No. 

12345 


Table No. 


Table No. 

1 

l-l-l-l-l 

9 

3-1-2-3-4 

2 

1 -2-2-2-2 

10 

3-2-1-4-3 

3 

1-3-3-3-3 

11 

3-3-4-1-2 

4 

1-4-4-4-4 

12 

3-4-3-2-1 

5 

2-1-3-4-2 

13 

4-1-4-2-3 

6 

2-3-1-2-4 

14 

4-2-3-1-4 

7 

2-4-2-1-3 

15 

4-4-1-3-2 

3 

2-2-4-3-1 

16 

4-3-2-4-1 


Auction Bridge—125 points for game; 50 Small Slam; 100 Grand Slam. 
Contract Bridge—40 points part score; 300 game Not Vulnerable; 500 
game Vulnerable. 

Cut each time for partners. 

Deal 1—N & S Vulnerable. 

Deal 2—Neither Vulnerable. 

Deal 3—E & W Vulnerable. 

Deal 4—Both Vulnerable. 








SECTION 6 

EXCERPTS TAKEN FROM THE INTERNATIONAL 
LAWS ON CONTRACT BRIDGE 
Effective Nov. 1, 1932 


By permission of 

THE WHIST CLUB, NEW YORK 

Looking at Cards During Deal—Dealing Out of Turn 

A player must not look at any of his cards until deal is com¬ 
pleted.” (9) 

“If in so doing a card is faced, player at left, after looking at his 
cards, may elect that there shall not be a new deal.” (38 ) 

“Any player dealing out of turn, or with the opponent’s pack, may 
be stopped before the^ last card is dealt, otherwise the deal stands as if 
made in turn, and the packs if changed, remain changed.” (9) 

Exposed Card 

“If any card is exposed below or above the table, a new deal must 

be made.” (10) 

An Imperfect Deal 

“Dealer may rectify his error if he deals two cards at once or con 
secutively to the same hand.” (10) “There must be a new deal by the 
same player with the same pack if the last card does not come in its 
regular order to the dealer, or if the play begins, or at any time during 
the hand, a player holds more than the proper number of cards and 
another less; except if it can be shown that two cards have been placed 
to a trick from one hand and none from another hand”; (10) but, “If 
during the play of the hand it is found that a player has a surplus 
card due to omission to play to a trick—(a) where the offender has led 
or played to a later trick, declarer or the opponent on declarer’s left, 
as the case may be, may claim a new deal; but this penalty may not be 
enforced against dummy’s hand; (b) where play continues, the of¬ 
fender must forthwith remove a card from the redundant hand and, if 
practical, the card must be one which he could properly have played to 
the defective trick.” (48) 

Information as to Calls Made 

“A player may ask to have previous calls re-stated—during the 
auction when it is his turn to call; or after the auction is closed but 

57 




58 


Excerpts from Laws 


before the opening lead is made. After the opening lead is made, a 
player may only ask what the contract is and whether, but not by whom, 
it was doubled or re-doubled.” (17) 

Deal or Play—When Completed 

“A card is deemed to have been led or played—(a) by declarer 
when a card from his own hand has been quitted face up on the table, 
or when he touches a card in the dummy’s hand; but, if in touching a 
card in dummy’s hand he says ‘I arrange’ or words to that effect, or if 
he is manifestly touching it for some other purpose, such touching does 
not constitute a lead or play; (b) by an opponent of declarer when a 
card has been detached from his hand and so placed or held that his 
partner sees any portion of its face.” (21) 

Inspecting Quitted Tricks 

“A quitted trick cannot be inspected before end of hand, unless 
there is a difference of opinion as to which hand won it; or, it is found 
to contain an incorrect number of cards; or, it is necessary to turn it 
in order to substitute a correct card; or, a player who fears that he has 
revoked in it obtains permission to examine it before he or his partner 
has led or played to the next trick. An opponent may refuse such per¬ 
mission, but in that case his side cannot claim the penalty for an es¬ 
tablished revoke in that trick.” (24) 

Calling Out of Turn 

“If a player makes a call, other than a pass before any bid has been 
made, when it is the turn of his partner or of the opponent on his left 
to call; or, except to correct a misnomer and is shown to be such by 
the player amending it practically in the same breath, it stands as 
corrected. By a misnomer is meant a slip of the tongue and not a 
change of mind. Except in a case, provided, a player may not alter a 
call made by him, and makes a second and different call before the 
opponent on his left has called, that the opponent may claim a new 
deal; and if such player elects to allow the deal to stand, the out-of¬ 
turn call is cancelled and the auction proceeds as though it had not 
been made.” (39) (16) 

‘“If a player make a call, other than a pass, when it is the turn of 
the opponent on his right to call, the auction reverts to that opponent 
and proceeds as though the out-of-turn call had not been made, but 
the offender’s partner must pass when next it is his turn to call.” (39) 

Dummy’s Rights 

“Dummy may not by act or word suggest any lead or play, or call 
attention to an opponent’s revoke, lead out of turn, or card exposure, 



Penalties for Irregularities 


59 


or warn the declarer that he is about to lead from the wrong hand or 
tell him, except in reply to a question which hand has the lead. The 
opponent on dummy’s left may choose the hand from which the lead is 
to be made, otherwise he has all the rights of a player.” (19) 

Insufficient Bid 

“If a player’s bid is insufficient to overbid the preceding bid, and he 
fails to correct before attention is drawn to the irregularity by another 
player, he must make his bid sufficient by substituting a higher bid of 
any denomination, and his partner must pass when next it is his turn 
to call. Until attention has been drawn to the irregularity or a call has 
been made by the player on his left, the offender may correct his bid 
by raising the number of tricks specified to the requisite number of 
the same denomination. If he does so, the bid stands corrected and 
there is no penalty. If the player on offender’s left makes a call before 
attention has been drawn to the irregularity, the insufficient bid ranks 
as a sufficient bid.” (40) 

Looking at a Quitted Trick 

“If a player turns and inspects a quitted trick when not authorized 
by the laws to do so, declarer or the opponent on his left, as the case 
may be, may select the suit from which the offending side is to lead 
when first it is the turn of that side to lead. A player revokes if, when 
able to play or lead as required, he fails to do so.” (53) — (55) 

Leads Out of Turn 

“If declarer leads from either hand when it is the opponent’s turn 
to lead, either opponent may require him to take the lead back, but he 
may not withdraw it unless an opponent requires him to do so. If an 
opponent of declarer leads when it is not his turn to lead, declarer, 
before he has played to the trick from either hand, may either call a 
lead of a suit named by him from the offending side and treat the card 
led out of turn as an exposed card until it becomes an opponent’s turn 
to lead; or, may forbid the next lead to be made from the suit of the 
exposed card; or, treat the card led out of turn as a card led in turn. 
If a card is played to an oqt-of-turn lead by the other side, the incor¬ 
rect lead must be treated as a correct lead. If, after an opening lead 
by the wrong opponent, declarer’s partner exposes any of his cards 
before declarer selects the penalty, the latter may not exact the penalty. 
If the opponents of declarer lead simultaneously, the correct lead 
stands and the card led out of turn is an exposed card.” (46) 




60 


Excerpts from Laws 


Declarer Leading from Wrong Hand 

“If declarer leads from the wrong hand, either opponent may re¬ 
quire him to lead from the correct hand, and in such a case he must, 
if he can, lead a card of the suit, but, if an opponent plays to the 
trick before declarer withdraws the card wrongly led, the lead from 
the wrong hand must be treated as a correct lead.” (45) 

“No penalty is incurred by declarer or his partner for exposing 
cards after auction has closed.” (44) 

The Revoke 

The Revoke is either “Established” or “Unestablished”. An unes¬ 
tablished revoke is the same as the old “Renounce” and can be cor¬ 
rected before the offending player or partner has led or played to the 
next trick. When revoke is “Established.” the trick stands as played, 
and if attention is called thereto, two tricks won by the offending side 
are transferred to the other side at the end of the hand, provided, 
always, that no transfer shall include any trick won before the first 
revoke occurred, or any trick transferred from the other side under the 
revoke law. For each subsequent revoke by the same side in the same 
hand, which becomes similarly liable to penalty, one trick is so trans¬ 
ferred. 


The authors of this treatise feel that they have covered the most 
important phases of the new laws, effective November 1, 1932, and 
have shown opposite each change, the numerical reference to the law 
covering each particular item. 






















































